OF  BOOKS 


THE  STORY  OF  A  REGIMENT: 

A  HISTORY  OF  THE  CAMPAIGNS, 

AND 

ASSOCIATIONS  IN  THE  FIELD, 

OF 

THE   SIXTH    REGIMENT 

OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 


BY  E.  HANNAFORD, 

Formerly  a  Member  of  the  Regiment,  and  later  Adjutant  of  the  lyjtb  0.  V.  /. 


For  Romans,  in  Rome's  quarrel, 
Spared  neither  land  nor  gold, 
Nor  son  nor  wife,  nor  limb  nor  life, 
In  the  brave  days  of  old. 

MACAULAY'S  "  HORATIUS." 


CINCINNATI: 
PUBLISHED   BY   THE   AUTHOR, 

No.  38  WEST  FOURTH  STREET, 
1868. 


.5 
bt 

H-3 


Entered,  accordittg»to**A£l'pf«'Cen^Be«s^iii  the  year  1868,  by 

*  E/HANNAFORD',^ 

In  the  Clerk's  Office'.ofttl»e^bi5tM<£t*  Qourt-of  th^  T/n^  ^ates,  for  the  Southern 
**•  tVi&  Of  cfhio'.'  * 


STEREOTYPED  AT  THE  FRANKLIN  TYPE  FOUNDRY,  CINCINNATI,  O. 


I*  $M  pp, 

(  Under  a  merciful  Providence,) 
Has  taught  me  to  cease  to  wonder 


44  iP8  w  fflamdloug  a  Iwii^rantt  vm  Ijaucteafal  to  ffle; 

TT        ^j  /!r  j  ^'j 

Amid  the  perils  of  some  of  the  scenes  which 
I  have  attempted  to  describe, 


is  volume  is 

In  a  spirit  of  gratitude  for  the  past, 
And  hope  for  the  future, 

ET  THE  AUTHOR. 


PEKSONAL. 


IN  bringing  to  a  completion  the  product  of  many  weary  hours'  labor, 
extended  over  a  period  of  more  than  two  years,  it  would  be  indecent 
should  I  omit  to  acknowledge  the  extent  of  my  indebtedness  to  a  large 
number  of  friends  for  their  generous  cooperation,  in  furnishing  data  and 
materials  of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  for  the  constant  encouragement  and 
sympathy  which  have  made  possible  what  could  never  otherwise  have  been 
accomplished,  notwithstanding  that  my  task  has  truly  been  a  labor  of  love. 
I  desire  to  thank  them  all  most  heartily;  and  if  any  of  them  turn  from 
this  volume  with  a  feeling  of  disappointment,  it  is  no  more  than  I  have 
done  very  many  times  during  its  preparation,  on  account  of  the  disparity 
between  my  design  and  the  actual  performance. 

The  map  of  the  Cheat  Mountain  region  was  prepared  expressly  for  this 
work  by  Mr.  George  B.  Nicholson  (to  whom  my  warmest  thanks  are  due 
for  great  and  constant  assistance,  in  many  different  ways),  and  is,  I 
believe,  the  only  one  extant  that  is  worth  the  trouble  of  referring  to,  in 
connection  with  the  history  of  the  campaign  there  in  the  fall  of  1861.  I 
regret  that  it  has  been  impossible,  from  pecuniary  considerations,  to  intro 
duce  more  maps,  as  at  one  time  I  hoped  that  I  should  be  justified  in  do 
ing;  but  this  is  of  the  less  consequence,  as  good  maps  of  Kentucky,  Ten 
nessee,  etc.,  can  readily  be  procured  almost  anywhere. 

Although  to  the  fair-minded  reader  nothing  of  the  kind  will  be  neces 
sary,  it  may  not  be  improper  for  me  to  say  that  those  chapters  which  re 
late  to  the  battle  of  Shiloh  were  not  written  in  a  spirit  of  derogation  of 
the  character,  or  invaluable  services  elsewhere,  of  him  who  is  now  the 
first  soldier  of  the  Republic,  and,  indeed,  the  foremost  one  of  all  Ameri- 

(v) 


Vi  PERSONAL. 

ca's  great  names  belonging  to  the  Present.  General  Grant's  place  in  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  his  countrymen  is  too  well  assured  to  require 
for  its  continuance  the  distortion  of  a  single  historic  fact.  Probably  no 
man  now  living  could  better  afford  to  have  the  exact  truth  told  concern 
ing  his  public  career,  as  a  whole,  than  the  present  General-in-Chief  of  the 
armie  sof  the  United  States;  and,  to  my  mind,  the  simple  fact  that  General 
Grant  was  able  to  rise  superior  to  the  adverse  fortune  which  the  Shiloh 
campaign  seemed  to  have  fastened  upon  him,  and  which  would  have  de 
stroyed  forever  the  capacity  for  usefulness  of  any  ordinary  man,  is  one 
of  the  strongest  proofs  which  he  could  possibly  give  of  the  possession  of 
intellectual  and  moral  power — in  a  word,  of  those  traits  of  character  which 
constitute  real  greatness. 

In  regard  to  General  Badeau's  Shiloh  narrative,  I  should  be  sorry  to 
be  understood  as  implying  that  its  misrepresentations  are  intentional. 
General  Badeau  was  not  present  at  that  battle  in  any  capacity,  and  it  is 
both  reasonable  and  charitable  to  suppose  that  he  was  himself  misinformed 
by  others. 

E.  HANNAFOKD. 

CINCINNATI,  August,  1868. 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 


PART     I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  GUTHRIE  GREYS.— (1854-April  18th,  1861.)— Ohio's  Patriotism— Her 
unpreparedness  for  the  War — Organization  of  the  Independent  Guthrie 
Greys — Biographical  Sketch  of  Captain  Presley  N.  Guthrie — Incidents, 
etc.— The  I.  G.  G.  Battalion— Biographical  Sketch  of  Major  W.  K. 
Bosiey — Prosperity  —  Encampment  at  Middletown  —  Parades,  etc. — 
Defense  of  the  Jail— The  Election  in  April,  1861— "G.  B.  McClellan, 
Esq." — He  declines  the  Majorship — The  political  horizon  darkens — 
Honors  to  Major  Anderson — "Sumter  Times" — Action  of  the  Battalion 
— A  Regiment  of  Greys 17-32 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  THREE  MONTHS'  SERVICE.— (April  19th-June  loth,  1861.)— The  War 
excitement — Camp  Harrison  organized — The  Greys  and  other  troops  at 
Camp — Visitors,  Drills,  Incidents,  etc. — Mustering  in — Roster  of  Offi 
cers — Camp  Life — Equipment — Marching  Orders — Camp  Dennison — 
The  first  death  in  the  regiment — Movements  in  West  Virginia — The 
Sixth  Indiana  entertained — Tidings  of  Philippi 33-44 

CHAPTER  III. 

REORGANIZATION.— (May  24th-June  28th,  1861.)— The  Three  Years'  ques 
tion — Difficulties  attending  Reorganization — Prompt  reenlistment  of 
the  Ninth  Ohio — The  Sixth  re-mustered — Troops  moving  to  the  Front — 
Incidents,  etc. — Roster  of  Officers — Biographical  Sketches  of  the  Field 
and  Staff,  viz. :  Lieutenant-Colonel  N.  L.  Anderson,  Major  A.  C.  Chris 
topher,  Surgeon  Starling  Loving,  Assistant  Surgeon  F.  W.  Ames, 
Adjutant  C.  H.  Heron,  and  Quartermaster  E.  M.  Shoemaker 45-54 

CHAPTER  IV. 

To  THE  FRONT.— (June  29th-^uly  6th,  1861.)— Marching  Orders— Farewell, 
Camp  Dennison — The  trip  by  rail  to  Bellair— Xenia,  London,  Columbus, 


viii  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

Cambridge — At  Belmont — Across  the  Ohio — The  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad — At  Fetterman — Fourth  of  July — The  Forced  March  to  Phil- 
ippi — The  situation — A  Resume — The  Plan  9f  Campaign — Morris' 
Brigade — Biographical  Sketch  of  General  Thomas  A.  Morris 55-68 

CHAPTER  V. 

LAUREL  HILL— (July  7th-13th,  1861.)— A  night  march— In  position— "The 
Siege  of  Laurel  Hill " — Incidents,  etc.— McClellan's  cooperative  move 
ment  from  Buckhannon — The  Middle  Fork  Bridge  afi'air — Rich  Mount 
ain — Garnett's  flight — Its  discovery — Pursuit — Waiting  for  daylight — 
Forward  again — A  terrible  march — Closing  in  upon  the  enemy..  69V79 

CHAPTER  VI. 

CARRICK'S  FORD. — (July  13th-20th,  1861.) — The  sounds  of  Battle — On  the 
field— Captain  Benham's  Official  Report  of  Carrick's  Ford— Resting — 
General  Garnett — Return  to  Laurel  Hill — McClellan's  movement  to 
Cheat  Mountain — End  of  the  Campaign — The  Three  Months'  Regiments 
return  home — Glance  at  their  future — General  Morris'  subsequent 

career 80—89 

CHAPTER  VII. 

BEVERLY.— (July  21str-August  27th,  1861.) — To  Beverly— Tidings  of  Bull 
Run — McClellan  summoned  to  Washington — The  situation  in  West 
Virginia— Reynolds'  Brigade — Biographical  Sketch  of  General  Joseph 
J.Reynolds — Duties  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  at  Beverly — Scouting — Company 
D  to  Leedsville — Death  of  Corporal  Ford — The  expedition  under  Cap 
tain  Clarke — Its  disastrous  termination — Mountaineer  Guerrillas — 
Excellent  sanitary  condition  of  the  Regiment — Changes  among  its 
officers — A  night  march  to  Huttonsville — Return 90-99 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

To  ELKWATER.— (August  29th-September  9th,  1861.)— A  night  march  to 
Elkwater — Fortifying — The  situation — Topography  of  the  Cheat  Mount 
ain  region — Colonel  Kimball's  camp  on  the  Summit — The  Elkwater 
defenses — Distribution  of  Reynolds'  forces — The  Camp  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio — Brady's  Gate — The  Sixth  on  picket  there — Receiving  the  Green 
wood  muskets — The  Bulltown  Scout — Incidents — Picketing  Stewart's 
Run— Return  of  Company  D 100-110 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  DISCOMFITURE  OF  LEE. — (September  9th-17th,  1861.) — Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Owens'  reconnoissance — The  enemy  in  motion — Long  Roll — 
Troops  to  the  front — Lee  halts — His  plan  of  campaign — The  Rebel 
General  Anderson's  flank  movement — Capture  of  the  Stewart's  Run 
pickets — A  stormy  night — Lee  closing  in — Skirmishing — Incidents — • 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS.  IX 

Dispositions  for  the  night — Tidings  of  Carnifex  Ferry — Critical  position 
of  affairs  about  Elkwater — Colonel  Marrow's  expedition  to  the  Summit 
— Repulse  and  flight  of  General  Anderson's  Brigade — Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Anderson's  expedition — Lee  wavering  in  his  purpose  of  attacking — 
More  skirmishing — Death  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  A.  Washington — 
Incidents,  etc. — Lee  retires — General  Reynolds'  Official  Report— Colonel 
Wagner's  Official  Report  (extract) 111-127 

.CHAPTER  X. 

THE  CAMPAIGN  DRAWS  TO  A  CLOSE. — (September  18-October  8th,  1861.) — 
The  captured  pickets — Their  march  to  Richmond — Incidents — Re- 
enforcements — A  reconnoissance  under  Colonel  Sullivan — Beating  up 
the  enemy  on  Mingo  Flats— Returning — A  fearful  storm — Frank  Guhra 
drowned — A  flooded  camp — The  Greenbriar  fight — Death  of  Lieuten 
ant  Bidwell — Biographical  Sketch — A  reconnoissance  under  Colonel 
Marrow— The  Rebel  camp  found  abandoned — End  of  the  campaign. 

128-141 
CHAPTER  XL 

THE  TIME  GROWS  SHORT  AT  ELKWATER. — (October  8th-November  16th, 
1861.) — The  Paymaster — Messrs.  Swartz  and  Marsh — Correspondents 
Miller  and  Crippen — The  Letter  Writers  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — Re-bri 
gading — Camp  life — Reminiscences — Captain  Bense  heard  from — Res 
ignations — Autumn  deepens — Need  of  clothing — Relief  from  Cincin 
nati,  etc. — Inspection  by  Major  Slemmer — Arrival  of  Surgeon  A.  H. 
Stephens — Biographical  Sketch  —  Remarkable  healthfulness  of  the 
Regiment — Death  of  Vanway  and  Volkers — Discharges  for  promotion — 
Thirteenth  Indiana  on  a  Scout — Winter  at  hand — Company  G  to  Bev 
erly — Third  Ohio  hutting  for  winter — Prospective  transfer  to  Ken 
tucky — Fond  hopes — Snow 142-154 

CHAPTER   XII. 

VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL! — (November  17th-December  7th,  1861.) — Marching 
Orders— The  last  night  at  Elkwater — Off  for  Kentucky — To  Beverly — 
The  Third  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  ahead — Subsequent  career  of  Gen 
eral  Reynolds — Over  Rich  Mountain — Buckhannon — A  race  with  the 
Twenty-fourth  —  At  Jane  Lew  —  Clarksburg  —  Paid  oft0 — By  rail  to 
Parkersburg — Down  the  Ohio — Home  and  friends  near  at  hand — 
Joyful  anticipations— Cincinnati  in  sight — A  bitter,  bitter  disap 
pointment — To  Louisville — In  the  mud  at  Camp  Jenkins — A  stampede 
— Re-assembling 155-168 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

NEW  ASSOCIATIONS.— (December  6th-18th,  1861.)— Camp  Jenkins— The 
troops  there— The  Third  and  Sixth  Ohio  separated— The  Fifteenth 
Brigade,  Army  of  the  Ohio — Biographical  Sketch  of  General  Milo  S. 
Hascall — Under  Nelson — The  march  to  Camp  Wickliffe — Location,  etc., 


X  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

of  the  new  camp — The  Tenth  Brigade — Disposition  of  Buell's  forces — 
Lincoln's  birthplace — Life  at  Camp  Wickliffe — Its  daily  programme — 
Resignations,  promotions,  etc. — Tidings  of  the  fight  at  Woodsonville. 

169-178 
CHAPTER  XIV. 

CAMP  WICKLTFFE.— (December  15th,  1861-February  13th,  1862.)— Drills,  etc. 
— The  holidays  in  camp — Eighth  of  January — General  Nelson's  energy 
and  great  industry — His  care  of  the  troops — Sickness  in  the  camp — 
Remarkable  healthfulness  of  the  Sixth  Ohio— How  accounted  for,  a 
conversation  between  General  Nelson  and  Surgeon  Stephens — The 
Nineteenth  Brigade — Nelson  ill,  etc. — Muskets  exchanged  and  Sibley 
tents  received — Details,  courts-martial,  etc.— Preparing  to  move  for 
ward — Orders  to  change  camp,  etc. — Tidings  of  victory :  Mill  Spring, 
Fort  Henry,  and  Roanoke  Island — Marching  orders 179-192 

CHAPTER   XV. 

FROM  CAMP  WICKLIFFE  TO  NASHVILLE.— (February  14th-25th,  1862.)— The 
march  to  West  Point — Its  difficulties  and  hardships — The  Sixth  Ohio 
retained  in  the  Fourth  Division  by  General  Nelson's  especial  request — 
Embarking  for  Fort  Donelson— The  order  for  embarkation — Cannelton — 
Glorious  tidings  from  Fort  Donelson — Evansville — Mouth  of  Green 
River — Back  to  Evansville  and  Cannelton — Paducah — Up  the  Cum 
berland — Clarksville — Orders  from  Buell — A  push  for  Nashville — 
Fort  Zolli  coffer — In  sight  of  the  city— The  Sixth  Ohio  the  first  regi 
ment  to  land — It  raises  its  colors  over  the  State  House — Captain  Driver 
and  his  flag — History  and  subsequent  fate  of  "Old  Glory."...  193-208 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

CAMP  ANDREW  JACKSON. — (February  25th-March  16th,  1862.) — The  Sixth 
Ohio  at  the  State  House — Out  to  camp — A  cavalry  stampede — Compo 
sition  of  the  Fourth  Division — The  Sixth  Ohio  in  the  Tenth  Brigade — 
Its  associations  there — The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio — The  Thirty-sixth 
Indiana — Biographical  sketch  of  Colonel  Jacob  Ammen — Deviltries  of 
John  Morgan's  cavalry,  etc. — A  military  execution— To  the  Hermitage — 
Continued  good  health  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — Resignations,  promotions, 
details,  etc. — The  officers  present  during  the  march  to  Savanna  and 
at  Shiloh 209-220 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  MARCH  TO  SAVANNA. — (March  17th-April  5th,  1862.) — The  situation  — 
Buell's  offer  to  cooperate  with  Halleck — The  expedition  up  the  Tennes 
see — The  general  plan  of  campaign — The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  en 
camped  at  Pittsburg  Landing — Grant  and  Sherman  responsible  for 
great  errors  in  the  Shiloh  campaign — Unfairness  of  Badeau's  Life  of 
Grant  in  regard  to  Shiloh — March  of  the  Fourth  Division  from  Nash 
ville — Franklin,  Spring  Hill,  Rutherford  Creek,  Carter's  Station— The 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  XI 

delay  at  Duck  River — Grant's  ignorance  of  his  danger — Nelson's  fore 
sight — He  fords  Duck  River  and  gains  the  advance — Columbia,  Mount 
Pleasant,  Pointer's  Furnace,  Waynesboro',  etc. — Buell  instructed  to  con 
centrate  at  Waynesboro',  but  instead  pushes  forward — Nelson  notified 
not  to  hasten  his  march — His  unslackened  exertions — Rain  and  bad 
roads — The  Fourth  Division  at  Savanna — Grant's  interviews  with  Gen 
eral  Nelson  and  Colonel  Ainmen — Nelson  peremptorily  forbidden  to 
march  beyond  Savanna—  Buell' s  arrival — Inaccuracies  of  Badeau's 
account — The  night  before  the  battle — Grant's  and  Sherman's  last  dis 
patches  preceding  the  battle  of  Shiloh 221-240 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

To  PITTSBURG  LANDING. — (April  6th,  1862.) — A  beautiful  Sabbath  morning 
— The  opening  roar  of  battle — Nelson's  impatience — He  goes  to  Grant's 
head-quarters — Marching  orders — Grant's  note  to  Buell — No  informa 
tion  as  to  the  roads — Captain  Kendrick  sent  out  to  examine  them— 
Rumors  of  disaster — Nelson's  distressing  situation — Colonel  Ammen  at 
the  landing  at  Savanna — No  boats  from  Pittsburg  Landing — Ammen's 
interview  with  General  C.  F.  Smith — Captain  Kendrick' s  report — The 
Fourth  Division  on  the  march — Through  the  woods  and  swamps  toward 
the  battle-field — Further  orders  from  Grant,  who  realizes  his  peril  at 
last — Scenes  at  Pittsburg  Landing— The  battle  of  Sunday — Success  of 
the  rebels — Perilous  situation  of  Grant's  army 241-255 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

SHILOH. — (April  6th  and  7th,  1862.) — Crossing  the  Tennessee — Grant,  Buell, 
and  Nelson  upon  the  bluff  at  Pittsburg  Landing — The  panic-stricken  rab 
ble  at  the  river — The  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  in  action — Importance  of  the 
services  rendered  by  Ammen's  brigade — General  Badeau's  statements 
upon  this  point  examined — The  Sixth  Ohio's  part  in  Sunday  evening's 
scenes — The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio — The  night  between  two  battles — Com 
panies  A  and  F,  Sixth  Ohio,  on  a  reconnoissance  at  midnight,  and  private 
Brocksmith  killed — Rain  and  darkness — Formation  of  the  lines  for 
Monday's  battle — Nelson's  attack  at  daylight — Progress  of  the  battle — 
Terrill's  opportune  arrival — The  fighting  of  the  Fourth  Division,  of  Am 
men's  brigade,  and  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — Volunteers  from  Company  A, 
Sixth  Ohio,  manning  Terrill's  guns — Terrill's  letter,  and  Nelson's  in 
dorsement — Lieutenant  Ludlow — End  of  the  battle — Casualties  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio— General  Buell's  official  report  (extracts) — General  Nelson's 
official  report — Letters  from  Rev.  (formerly  Captain)  J.  Mills  Kendrick. 
—General  Buell's  testimony 256-283 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  ADVANCE  UPON  CORINTH. — (April  8th-May  24th,  1862.) — Dr.  Stephens' 
valuable  services  at  Shiloh— The  siege  of  Corinth,  so-called— Diary  of 
events  during  April — Organization  and  position  of  Halleck's  forces — 


Xll  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Marching  orders — Diary  of  events  to  May  24th — Reconnoitering,  skir 
mishing,  fortifying,  etc. — At  Nichols'  Ford — The  skirmish  of  May  19th 
— Sergeant  Lawler  wounded 284-300 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

IN  CORINTH  AND  BEYOND. — (May  25th-June  8th,  1862.) — Flag  presentation 
from  the  Sixth  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio— Summary  of  events  to  May 
29th — The  evacuation  and  occupation  of  Corinth — Pope's  pursuit,  so- 
called — Summary  of  events  to  June  3d — The  Fourth  Division  ordered 
to  Pope's  support — Through  Corinth,  Danville,  and  Rienzi — In  position 
— The  Army  of  the  Ohio  ordered  to  East  Tennessee — Changes  among 
the  Sixth  Ohio's  officers — List  of  those  present  on  June  9th....  301-311 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

IUKA  AND  ATHENS. — (June  9th-July  13th,  1802.) — Buell's  anomalous  cam 
paign — Diary  of  events  to  June  llth — Through  Jacinto — At  luka — 
Preparing  for  a  summer  campaign — Organization  of  the  Fourth  Divis 
ion — The  march  of  June  17th — At  Bear  Creek — Diary  of  events  to  June 
29th — Buzzard's  Roost  and  Tuscumbia — Across  the  Tennessee  at  Jack 
son's  Landing — Florence,  Shoal  River,  and  Rogersville — Fording  Elk 
River— At  Athens — The  grand  review  on  the  Fourth  of  July — Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Anderson's  expedition  to  the  Elk  River  tunnel — Bio 
graphical  sketch  of  Colonel  William  Grose,  the  new  commander  of  the 
Tenth  Brigade 312-321 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

MURFREESBORO'. — (July  14th-31st,  1862.) — Capture  of  Murfreesboro'  by 
Forrest — Nelson  ordered  to  re-occupy  it  and  secure  Nashville— The 
march  to  Reynolds'  Station — Elk  River  and  Pulaski — Diary  of  events 
to  July  31st— A  railroad  accident — Through  Columbia — At  Nashville 
— By  rail  to  Murfreesboro' — Sixth  Ohio  quartered  in  the  town — Pur 
suing  guerrillas,  fortifying,  etc.^ — A  night  alarm — Death  of  Captain 
Tatem  —  Biographical  Sketch  —  Changes  among  the  commissioned 
officers 322-332 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

McMiNNviLLE. — (August  Ist-Scptembcr  7th,  1862.) — Diary  of  events  to  Aug 
ust  10th — Through  Readyville  and  Woodbury  to  McMinnville — The  ex 
pedition  toward  Sparta — Collins'  River,  Rock  Island,  and  Caney  Fork — 
Picket  duty,  drills,  etc. — The  left  wing  to  Murfreesboro'  and  return — 
Nelson's  departure  for  Kentucky — The  muster  of  August  18th — The 
situation — Evacuation  of  McMinnville — Diary  of  events  to  August  27th 
— To  Murfreesboro'  with  the  trains — Returning  to  McMinnville — Back 
to  Murfreesboro' — Bragg's  plans  and  progress — Buell's  whole  army  in 
retreat — Through  Lavergne  to  Nashville 333-344 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  Xlll 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  RACE  WITH  BRAGG  FOR  LOUISVILLE.— (September  8th-30th,  1862.)— #» 
route  for  Bowling  Green — Diary  of  events  to  September  13th — EdgefieUl 
Junction,  Tyree  Springs,  Mitchellsville,  Franklin,  and  Cave  Mill — At 
Bowling  Green — Half-rations,  etc. — Subsequent  services  of  General 
Ammen — Biographical  sketch  of  General  William  Sooy  Smith,  the  new 
commander  of  the  Fourth  Division — The  situation — The  march  resumed 
— Diary  of  events — Dripping  Springs,  Prewitt's  Knob,  etc. — In  line  of 
battle — Woodsonville,  Green  River,  Munfordville,  Camp  Nevin,  Eliza- 
bethtown,  and  West  Point — Hard-tack  once  more — To  Louisville — On 
Goose  Island — Muster-out,  etc.,  of  Colonel  Bosley — Resume  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio's  service  since  leaving  Corinth — Changes  among  the  commissioned 
officers 345-357 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

NELSON. — His  death  and  burial — Biographical  sketch — Extent  of  his  services 
at  Shiloh — Summary  of  General  Nelson's  character 358-369 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

PERRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN. — (October  Ist-December 
25th,  1862.) — Reorganization  of  Buell's  army — New  troops — The  Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois — Diary  of  events  to  October  8th — Floyd's  Fork,  Mount 
Washington,  Bardstown,  Springfield,  and  Rolling  Fork — The  battle  of 
Perry  ville — In  position  on  the  right,  skirmishing,  etc. — True  significance 
of  the  battle — Buell's  failure  to  improve  a  great  opportunity — Recon- 
noitering,  etc. — In  pursuit  again — Danville  and  Stanford — Diary  of 
events  to  October  18th — A  night  march — Crab  Orchard,  Mount  Vernon, 
Rockcastle  River,  Camp  Wildcat,  and  Nelson's  Cross-roads —Counter 
marching  toward  Nashville — A  snow  storm — The  scenes  of  Valley  Forge 
repeated — Somerset,  Fishing  Creek,  Mill  Spring,  Edmonton,  Glasgow, 
and  Scottsville — Through  Gallatin  and  across  the  Tennessee — At  Silver 
Springs — The  situation — Promotions,  etc. — Outline  of  events  down  to 
the  battle  of  Stone  River — Biographical  sketch  of  General  John  M. 
Palmer,  the  new  commander  of  the  Fourth  Division — Flag  presentation 
to  the  Sixth  Ohio — Colonel  Anderson's  speech  of  acceptance — Changes 
among  the  commissioned  officers,  etc. — Biographical  sketch  of  Major 
Anthony  0.  Russell 370-389 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

STONE  RIVER.— (December  26th,  1862-January  4th,  1863.)— The  situation— 
Organization  of  the  Fourth  Division — On  the  march  to  attack  Bragg  at, 
Murfreesboro' — Skirmishing,  etc. — Lavergne,  Stewart's  Creek,  etc. — In 
position  at  "Cowan's  Burnt  House" — Events  of  December  30th — The 
battle  morning — Rosecrans'  plans  and  magnificent  example  at  Stone 
River— Movements  of  Grose's  brigade — Terrific  fighting  of  the  Sixth 


XIV  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Ohio  in  the  cedars — Progress  of  the  battle — Supporting  Hazen — Rous 
seau's  and  HascaH's  mention  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — The  nights  on  the 
battle-field — Events  of  January  1st,  1863 — The  fighting  on  Friday  after 
noon  and  its  glorious  results — Bragg' s  retreat — In  camp  at  Murfrees- 
boro' — Biographical  sketches  of  Captain  McAlpin,  Adjutant  Williams, 
and  Lieutenant  Foster — Colonel  Anderson's  official  report — List  of  cas 
ualties  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — The  regiment's  heavy  loss — Colonel  Grose's 
official  report... ~ 390-415 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

MURFREESBORO'  AND  CRIPPLE  CREEK. — (January  5th-June  23d,  1863.) — In 
camp  near  Murfreesboro' — Foraging,  guerrilla  hunting,  etc. — The  Sixth 
Ohio's  "roll  of  honor" — Changes  among  the  commissioned  officers — 
Biographical  sketch  of  Adjutant  Throop — First  experience  with  shelter 
tents — Expeditions  to  Cripple  Creek,  Readyville,  Woodbury,  Bradyville, 
etc. — Splendid  condition  of  the  camp — Tidings  of  Chancellorsville, 
Streight's  expedition,  etc. — In  camp  at  Cripple  Creek — Drills,  reviews, 
"  etc. — A  terrible  rain-storm — A  memorable  grand  review — Changes 
among  the  commissioned  officers — Officers  on  duty  with  the  regiment 
during  the  Tullahoma  campaign 416-431 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

FROM  CRIPPLE  CREEK  TO  THE  CHICKAMAUGA. — (June  24th-September  llth, 
1863.) — The  situation — Marching  orders — Rosecrans'  plan  of  campaign 
— Diary  of  events  to  July  3d — Rain,  more  rain — Bradyville  and  Man 
chester — To  Morris'  Ford,  on  Elk  River — In  camp  on  Indian  Creek — 
Tidings  of  Vicksburg — In  camp  at  Manchester — Cutting  railroad  ties, 
etc. — Camp-life  as  described  in  an  officer's  letter — The  party  sent  to 
Ohio  for  drafted  men — The  situation — The  march  across  the  Cumber 
land  mountains  and  Waldron's  Ridge  to  Foe's  Tavern — Operations  in 
the  Tennessee  Valley — Recrossing  Waldron's  Ridge  and  down  the  Se- 
quatchie  Valley — Across  the  Tennessee— Advancing  on  Chattanooga — 
Shell  Mound,  Lookout  Valley,  etc. — Grose's  reconnoissance  to  Sum 
mer  town — Occupation  of  Chattanooga — Rosecrans'  misconception  of 
Bragg' s  plans — In  pursuit — Graysville  and  Ringgold — Skirmishing, 
reconnoitering,  etc. — Critical  situation  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
— Changes  among  the  commissioned  officers,  and  roster  of  those  present 
on  the  Chickamauga  campaign 432-449 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

CHICKAMAUGA. — (September  12th-20th,  1863.) — Diary  of  events  to  Septem 
ber  18th  —  At  Gordon's  Mill — Reconnoitering,  skirmishing,  etc. — To 
Chattanooga  Valley  and  back- — Watching  the  line  of  the  Chickamauga 
— Crawfish  Springs — Private  Hooth,  Company  F,  Sixth  Ohio,  killed  in 
a  picket  skirmish — The  enemy's  plans  developed — A  night  march — la 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  XV 

position — Grose's  reconnoissance  to  Baird's  division  and  return — Open 
ing  of  the  battle — Summary  of  its  principal  events,  etc. — Casualties  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio— Major  Erwin's  official  report — An  officer's  letter— Gen 
eral  Reynolds'  mention  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — Colonel  Grose's  official  re 
port 450-476 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

CHATTANOOGA  AND  BROWN'S  FERRY.  —  (September  21st-November  19th, 
1863.) — Retirement  to  Chattanooga— Bragg's  starving-out  strategy — 
Straits  of  the  Union  army — Leading  incidents  in  the  Sixth  Ohio's  his 
tory  to  October  9th — Reorganization  of  the  army — Subsequent  career  of 
General  Palmer  and  Colonel  Grose — Biographical  sketches  of  Generals 
Wood  and  Hazen,  the  new  division  and  brigade  commanders  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio — Summary  of  events  to  October  21st— Sufferings  of  the  troops 
— Rosecrans  replaced  by  General  Grant — The  Brown's  Ferry  expedition 
— Its  complete  success — Hooker's  men  in  Lookout  Valley — Summary  of 
events  to  November  18th — Changes  among  the  commissioned  officers, 
and  roster  of  those  present  at  Missionary  Ridge 477-495 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

MISSIONARY  RIDGE. — (November  20th-25th,  1868.) — Longstreet  sent  into 
East  Tennessee — Sherman  coming  up — Grant's  original  plan  of  "the 
battle  of  Chattanooga" — Preparing  for  action — Events  of  November  21st 
and  22d — Wood's  division  ordered  upon  a  reconnoissance — General 
Wood's  description  of  the  seizure  of  Orchard  Knob,  the  assault  ou  Mission 
Ridge,  etc. — An  officer's  letter — Incidents — Lieutenant-Colonel  Christo 
pher's  official  report — Biographical  sketch  of  Major  Ei-win— Casualties 
of  the  Sixth  Ohio — General  Hazen's  official  report 496-518 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

EAST  TENNESSEE. — (November  28th,  1863-April  16th,  1864.) — The  march  to 
the  relief  of  Knoxvilie — Harrison,  Georgetown,  the  Hiawassee,  Decatur, 
Sweetwater,  the  Little  Tennessee,  Marysville,  Little  River,  ere. — Hard 
ships  of  East  Tennessee  campaigning — To  Blain's  Cross-roads — The 
Clinch  Mountains — Bitterly  cold  weather — Across  the  Holston  and 
through  Strawberry  Plains  to  Dandridge — The  retreat  from  thence — 
Through  Knoxvilie  to  Campbell's  Station — In  camp  at  Lenoir's — Colonel 
Anderson  in  command  of  the  brigade — Back  to  Knoxvilie — The  Shuck's 
Gap  expedition— Advancing  again —Through  Strawberry  Plains  and 
New  Market  to  Morristown — In  camp  at  New  Market — Panther  Springs, 
Rutledge,  Powder  Spring  Gap,  Bean's  Station,  etc. — Return  of  Sergeant 
Price  — Reconno'tering,  etc. — Longstreet's  final  withdrawal — Leaving 
East  Tennessee — Strawberry  Plains,  Knoxvilie,  Lenoir's,  London,  the 
Holston,  Sweetwater,  Athens,  Charleston,  the  Hiawassee,  Cleveland, 
etc...,  ..  519-528 


XVI  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

CLEVELAND,  RESACA,  HOME,  AND  MUSTER-OUT. — (April  17th-June  23d,  1864.) 
— In  camp  at  Tucker's  Gap — Drills,  reviews,  etc. — Garrisoning  Cleve 
land — Colonel  Anderson  in  command  of  the  Post — Tidings  from  Tun 
nel  Hill,  Dalton,  and  Resaca — Marching  orders — Once  more  to  the  front 
— Dalton,  Resaca,  Calhoun,  Kingston,  etc. — Guarding  the  railroad 
bridge  at  Resaca — Ninth  and  Tenth  Ohio,  and  First  and  Second  Ken 
tucky  off  for  home — Officers  and  detailed  men  rejoining  the  regiment — 
The  trip  home — Reception  in  Cincinnati — Muster-out — Present  location, 
etc.,  of  the  officers  mustered  out  with  the  regiment — Summary  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio's  service  in  marching  and  fighting — Heavy  details  for  cler 
ical  duty — Remarkable  healthfulness  of  the  regiment 529-536 


PART    II. 

CHEAT  MOUNTAIN  CAMPAIGNING.— THE  MARCH  TO  CHEAT 
MOUNTAIN  —  A  NOTABLE  SCOUTING  ADVENTURE — THE  COURT- 
MARTIAL  OF  STALNAKER — "  SKEDADDLE"— How  DID  THE  TERM 
ORIGINATE? 539-547 

TRAINING  UNDER  NELSON.— A  PRIVATE'S  DIARY— NELSONIANA 

A   MILITARY   EXECUTION 548-557 

COMING  UP  AT   SHILOH 558-569 

BATTLE  PICTURES  FROM  SHILOH.— ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD— AN 

OFFICER'S  RECOLLECTIONS — EXTRACTS  FROM  A  LETTER 570-581 

IN  THE  RANKS  AT  STONE  RIVER 582-596 

IN  HOSPITAL  AFTER  STONE  RIVER 597-610 

APPENDIX.— ROSTER  OF  THE  INDEPENDENT  GUTHRIE  GREYS — ROS 
TER  OF  THE  SIXTH  OHIO  REGIMENT  (THREE-YEARS'  TERM) 611 


THE    STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTEE   I. 
THE    GUTHRIB    GREYS. 

(1854-APRIL  18, 1861.) 

IN  the  tumultuous  rushing  to  arms  which  succeeded  the  fall 
of  Fort  Sumter,  the  country — that  is  to  say,  the  loyal 
North — was  conscious  of  great  and  lamentable  unpreparedness 
for  the  war  thus  suddenly  forced  upon  it.  In  fact,  from  the 
first  hour  of  the  tremendous  conflict,  the  nation's  salvation  lay 
bound  up  in  the  patriotism,  courage,  and  determination  of  the 
people.  These  grand  attributes  of  a  free  community  produced 
wonderful  results.  Even  amid  the  wild  enthusiasm  and  ex 
travagant  self-confidence  of  "Sumter  times,"  they  developed 
resources  and  capabilities  of  incalculable  value,  alike  in  a  mili 
tary  and  in  a  political  point  of  view.  As  the  contest  deepened, 
and  its  full  significance  by  degrees  dawned  upon  the  popular 
mind,  they  created  vast  armies  and  navies,  colossal  combina 
tions,  and  new  methods  of  warfare,  with  an  energy  and 
rapidity  unparalleled  in  history. 

The  record  of  Ohio  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  is  an 
illustrious  exemplification  of  the  power  inherent  in  great  moral 

principles  for  effecting  vast  material  results.     The  President's 
2  (17) 


18  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

first  call  for  troops  was  issued  on  the  15th  of  April,  1861. 
The  morning  of  the  19th  saw  two  entire  regiments  en  route 
from  Columbus  to  the  National  Capital.  Ohio's  assigned 
quota,  under  the  call,  was  thirteen  thousand  men.  Within 
two  weeks,  says  the  report  of  Adjutant-General  Buckingham 
for  1861,  nearly  thirty  thousand  had  offered  their  services, 
and,  it  had  become  "a  task  of  serious  and  embarrassing  diffi 
culty  to  decide  which  should  be  the  favored  ones."  Yet  the 
war  had  found  Ohio  "  in  no  condition  whatever  to  meet  its 
requirements.  Almost  the  entire  organization  of  the  militia 
was  merely  nominal.  Very  many  of  the  high  offices  were  va 
cant,  and  the  system,  if  such  it  could  be  called,  had  no  work 
ing  power.  The  only  bright  spots  in  this  melancholy  picture 
were  less  than  a  dozen  independent  companies  of  volunteer 
infantry,*  and  seven  or  eight  gun  squads  of  artillery,  called, 
by  law,  companies." 

Two  of  the  infantry  companies  here  referred  to — namely, 
the  "  Independent  Guthrie  Greys,"  of  Cincinnati — became  the 
nucleus  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry; 
whence  it  naturally  came  about  that  that  regiment,  at  home, 
was  long  known  by  the  old,  familiar  name  of  the  Guthrie 
Greys,  and  perhaps  many  Cincinnatians  still  remember  it  best 
by  that  designation. 

Early  in  the  year  1854,  a  serious  disaffection  among  the 
"  Rover  Guards,"  a  well-remembered  Cincinnati  company  of 
volunteer  militia,  culminated  in  the  withdrawal  of  a  number 
of  its  members,  among  whom  were  several  of  the  officers,  with 

*The  term  "independent  companies"  here  designates  all  companies 
other  than  those  of  the  ordinary  militia.  The  Guthrie  Greys  formed  the 
only  organization  which  ever  availed  itself,  of  the  provisions  of  the  law, 
passed  in  March,  1859,  legalizing  an  independent  militia.  That  law  we 
shall  consider  presently. 


THE   GUTHRIE   GREYS.  19 

the  determination  of  organizing  a  military  corps  which  should 
be  entirely  independent  of  control  by  the  authorities  of  the 
State  or  any  militia  officer  appointed  under  its  laws.  Their 
first  meeting,  for  this  purpose,  was  held  at  the  Rover  Engine- 
house,  on  Fourth  Street,  being  attended  by  just  seven  per 
sons;*  and,  on  the  19th  of  April,  the  anniversary  of  the  battle 
of  Lexington,  the  organization  of  the  "  Independent  Guthrie 
Greys"  was  completed.  The  company  assumed  its  name  in 
compliment  to  the  citizen  who,  by  unanimous  choice,  became 
its  first  commander. 

Captain  Presley  N.  Guthrie,  grandson  of  an  officer  in  the 
revolutionary  war,  was  not  a  novice  in  military  affairs.  Al 
though  reared  to  mercantile  pursuits,  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl 
vania,  where  he  was  born,  on  the  4th  of  August,  1819,  his 
taste  for  the  profession  of  arms  early  manifested  itself,  and 
while  still  quite  a  young  man  he  was  chosen  to  the  command 
of  the  "  Duquesne  Greys,"  a  noted  volunteer  company  of  his 
native  city.  On  the  llth  of  March,  1847,  having  previously 
applied  for  a  position  in  the  regular  army,  he  was  commis 
sioned  a  captain  in  the  Eleventh  United  States  Infantry;  a 
detachment  of  which,  including  Captain  Guthrie's  company, 
were  the  first  reinforcements  received  by  General  Scott  from 
the  United  States,  cutting  their  way  through  hostile  forces  for 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  distance  between  Vera  Cruz  and 
Puebla.  Captain  Guthrie  was  in  the  battles  of  Contreras, 
Cherubnsco,  and  El  Molino  del  Rey,  and,  for  his  gallantry 
and  good  conduct,  received  the  brevet  of  Major.  In  the  action 
last  named,  he  was  twice  shot  down,  receiving  severe  and  dan 
gerous  wounds. 

*  These  were  P.  N.  Guthrie,  W.  K.  Bosley,  Julian  White,  John  H. 
Carter,  James  Bense,  Samuel  B.  Neal,  and  T.  A.  Bosley.  A  roster  of 
the  Guthrie  Grey  organization  is  given  in  the  Appendix. 


20  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

The  declaration  of  peace  with  Mexico  was  speedily  followed 
by  the  disbandment  of  the  new  regiments  of  regular  troops, 
of  which  the  Eleventh  Infantry  was  one.  Upon  his -return  to 
civil  life,  Captain  Guthrie  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where,  for  a 
number  of  years,  he  was  engaged  as  book-keeper  in  a  mercan 
tile  house  on  Pearl  Street.  His  military  prestige  accompanied 
him.  He  was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  company  of  Rover  Guards, 
and  at  the  period  under  consideration  had  recently  been  its 
captain. 

The  Guthrie  Greys  made  their  debut  on  the  Fourth  of  July 
following  their  organization,  in  a  public  parade,  wherein  thir 
ty-five  members  participated.*  Though  on  so  modest  a  scale, 
numerically,  the  display  attracted  much  attention,  and  resulted 
in  decided  benefit  to  the  young  company. 

Captain  Guthrie  continued  in  command  about  a  year,  when 

*  None  of  the  survivors  but  will  recall,  with  lingering  fondness,  the  keen 
enjo}~ments  and  the  good  fellowship  of  this  occasion.  Captain  Guthrie 
resided  in  Covington.  Thither  the  company  repaired  after  the  morning 
parade,  and  was  most  hospitably  entertained,  returning  to  Cincinnati  late 
in  the  afternoon.  The  writer  is  indebted  to  Mr.  John  H.  Carter  for  a 
complete  "Roll  of  the  Independent  Guthrie  Greys,  on  their  first  parade, 
July  4th,  1854,"  as  follows.  The  stars  indicate  withdrawals  from  the 
Rover  Guards: 

Captain,  P.  N.  Guthrie;*  First  Lieutenant,  W.  K.  Bosley;*  Second 
Lieutenant,  Chas.  G.  Carter;*  Third  Lieutenant,  Julian  White;*  Ensign, 
Alexander  Lockwood.* 

Orderly  Sergeant,  John  H.  Carter;*  Second  Sergeant,  James  Bense;* 
Third  Sergeant,  Walter  J.  Smith;*  Fourth  Sergeant,  D.  V.  Bennett.  Cor 
porals,  J.  H.  Anderson,  S.  B.  Neal,*  W.  B.  Carter,*  J.  D.  Lovell.* 

Privates,  Trux.  T.  Swift*  W.  Vandevier,*  John  H.  Eagan,*  C.  J.  F. 
Burley,*  T.  A.  Bosley,*  C.  M.  Chenoweth,  Al.  L.  Smith,  W.  H.  Vande- 
water,  John  Ellis,  C.  W.  Sullivan,  L.  H.  Kellogg,  Geo.  B.  Weidler,  W.  M. 
Sheppard,  Chas.  Hofer,  Frank  Lewis,  J.  Ashcraft,  W.  Price,  Chas.  H. 
Brutton,  W.  McGeorge,  John  Baldwin,  H.  W.  Diggins,  Thatcher  Lewis. 


THE   GUTHRIE   GREYS.  21 

he  was  commissioned  Captain  in  the  Ninth  Infantry  (a  new 
regiment  which  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War,  Jefferson 
Davis,  was  just  organizing),  by  President  Pierce,  witli  whom 
he  was  on  terms  of  personal  friendship,  dating  back  to  their 
service  side  by  side  in  Mexico.  In  the  fall  of  1855,  the  Ninth 
Regiment  was  ordered  to  Washington  Territory,  and  on  ar 
riving  there  was  broken  up  into  isolated  detachments,  most 
of  which  were  distributed  among  the  posts  established  for  the 
protection  of  the  frontier  settlements.  Captain  Guthrie  was 
assigned  to  the  command  at  Muckleshute,  a  remote  and  illy- 
furnished  outpost,  where  many  hardships  and  privations  had 
to  be  undergone ;  in  addition  to  which  the  climate  proved  un 
favorable,  and  after  an  absence  of  about  eighteen  months,  he 
rejoined  his  family,  in  Covington,  the  doomed  victim  of  con 
sumption.  He  died  on  the  29th  of  December,  1857,  and  was 
buried  with  military  honors  by  an  escort  of  regulars  from 
Newport  Barracks,  and  a  full  parade  of  both  the  Guthrie  Greys 
and  Rover  Guards. 

Meanwhile,  the  Greys  had  become  a  strong  organization, 
noted  for  its  enterprise  and  esprit  de  corps.  In  addition  to  the 
active  membership,  the  books  showed  a  steadily  increasing 
list  of  contributing  members,  who  helped  to  furnish  "the 
sinews  of  war,"  and,  besides,  were  useful  in  molding  a  fa 
vorable  public  sentiment.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1856, 
which  was  celebrated  by  the  most  imposing  pageant  that  Cin 
cinnati  had  ever  witnessed,  the  Greys  turned  out  nearly  one 
hundred  strong,  and  bore  a  very  conspicuous  part  in  the  mili 
tary  display  on  that  occasion.  About  twenty-five  active  mem 
bers  joined  the  company  a  few  days  afterward. 

By  the  close  of  the  year  1858,  the  membership  had  become 
so  numerous  that  a  reorganization  was  deemed  expedient,  upon 
the  basis  of  two  companies  instead  of  one.  Thenceforward,  it 


22  THE   STOKY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

was  the  battalion  of  Independent  Guthrie  Greys,  composed  of 
the  first  and  second  companies.  The  first  meeting  of  the 
battalion,  as  such,  was  held  on  the  evening  of  January  10th, 
1859.  The  constitution,  previously  adopted,  was  prefaced  by 
the  following  preamble: 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  are  deeply 
impressed  with  a  conviction  that  a  well-organized  militia  is  the 
best  and  surest  means  of  national  defense,  and  of  protecting  the 
lives,  liberty,  and  property  of  our  fellow-citizens  from  lawless  vio 
lence  ;  and  that,  in  order  to  give  energy  and  direction  to  the  mar 
tial  spirit  of  the  soldier,  and  more  especially  to  preserve  inviolate 
and  sacred  those  rights  and  privileges  which  have  been  transmitted 
to  us  in  the  happy  and  admirable  Government  which  we  now 
enjoy,  and  to  excel  in  military  tactics,  we  should  be  governed  by 
laws  other  than  those  of  common  militia.  And  the  better  to  enable 
us  to  carry  into  effect  the  foregoing,  we  have  formed  a  military 
corps,  and  do  hereby  consent  and  agree  to  be  governed  by  the 
following  constitution  and  by-laws." 

The  constitution  provided  for  three  distinct  kinds  of  mem 
bership  :  active,  contributing,  and  honorary  life.  For  the  first 
of  these,  any  person  of  good  moral  character,  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  at  least  twenty-one  years  of  age,  was  eli 
gible.  Contributing  members  were  required  to  possess  similar 
qualifications ;  they  were  privileged  to  attend  drills  and  open 
meetings,  but  had  no  voice  in  either.  Honorary  life  mem 
bers  were  principally  those  old  and  faithful  members  who  had 
performed  active  duty  in  the  battalion  for  five  years  and  up 
ward,  and  were  exempt  from  all  dues  and  assessments.  Upon 
payment  of  arrearages  and  returning  all  equipments,  an  active 
or  contributing  member  could  resign  at  any  time.  The  of 
ficers  of  the  battalion  were  a  major,  adjutant,  quartermaster, 


THE   GUTHRIE   GREYS.  23 

paymaster  (or  treasurer),  surgeon,  judge-advocate,  ensign,  and 
sergeant-major.  To  these  were  added  two  civil  officers,  the 
recording  and  corresponding  secretaries.  The  company  of 
ficers — non-commissioned  included — were  a  captain,  three  lieu 
tenants,  four  sergeants,  and  four  corporals.  All  officers  were 
elected  annually  by  ballot  at  the  first  stated  meeting  in  April. 
Three  days  in  each  year  were  set  apart  for  public  parades — 
"  the  19th  day  of  April  (being  the  anniversary  of  organiza 
tion),  the  4th  of  July,  and  the  22d  of  February."  Special 
parades  could  be  ordered  at  any  time  by  the  commanding  of 
ficer,  or  by  a  three-fourths  vote  of  the  members. 

The  choice  for  major  fell  naturally,  and  without  dissent, 
upon  the  gentleman  who  had  been  the  company's  efficient 
commandant  for  nearly  four  years,  or  since  the  departure  of 
Captain  Guthrie.  Major  William  K.  Bosley  was  born  in 
Baltimore,  January  1,  1825,  and  came  to  Cincinnati  in  Octo 
ber,  1839.  Subsequently  he  held  a  position  in  the  Post-office, 
after  filling  which  for  some  time  he  engaged  in  the  wall-paper 
business,  holding  an  interest  in  the  firm  of  Sharpless  &  Bos- 
ley,  on  Fourth  Street.  He  first  joined  the  old  Light  Guard 
company  of  militia,  and  next  the  Rover  Guards,  holding  office 
in  both,  and  upon  his  withdrawal  from  the  latter,  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Greys. 

At  this  period  the  battalion  extended  its  influence  to  Co 
lumbus,  leaving  its  impress  upon  the  legislation  of  the  State 
in  the  passage  of  "an  act  to  organize  and  regulate  an  in 
dependent  militia,"  which  stands  recorded  upon  the  statute 
books  as  "House  Bill  No.  418,  approved  March  26th,  1859." 
Like  other  great  bodies,  the  legislature  was  disposed  to  move 
slowly,  but  the  committees  which  the  battalion  sent  to  Co 
lumbus  labored  assiduously,  and  the  measure  was  finally  car 
ried.  Under  the  provisions  of  this  law,  the  battalion  secured 


24  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

two  much-desired  advantages.*  These  were,  first,  the  same 
privileges  regarding  the  use  of  the  public  arms  as  were  en 
joyed  by  the  regular  militia ;  and,  second,  the  exemption  of 
all  contributing,  as  well  as  active,  members  from  labor  on  the 
public  highways  and  from  all  juror  duty  in  State  courts.  The 
latter  provision  opened  a  rich  source  of  revenue,  enabling 
the  corps  to  procure  a  completely  appointed  armory  (in 
Day's  building,  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Walnut  Streets), 
and  a  handsome  camp  equipage,  of  both  which  the  members 
were  justly  proud.  Within  two  years  the  company  property, 
held  in  common,  amounted  in  value  to  several  thousand  dol 
lars. 

The  form  of  organizing  under  the  new  law  was  gone  through 
with  on  the  4th  of  April,  1859.  At  the  same  meeting  the 
regular  annual  election  was  held,  resulting  in  the  choice  of 

*  This  bill  furnishes  internal  evidence  of  an  amount  of  tact  and  inge 
nuity,  on  the  part  of  its  framers,  that  would  have  done  no  discredit  to 
veteran  politicians.  The  following  synopsis  gives  the  main  points  not 
specified  above :  In  counties  having  cities  of  more  than  80,000  inhabit 
ants  (thus  limiting  the  application  of  the  statute  to  the  county  in  which 
Cincinnati  is  situated),  it  was  declared  to  be  lawful  to  organize  inde 
pendent  companies,  squadrons,  battalions,  and  regiments,  provided,  how 
ever,  these  organizations  should  be  no  charge  to  the  State.  Each  battalion 
was  to  coneist  of  from  two  to  five  companies,  and  each  company  of  from 
forty  to  one  hundred  men,  rank  and  file.  Companies  might  enroll  the  same 
number  of  contributing  members,  and  might  uniform  themselves  in  accord 
ance  with  their  own  tastes.  It  was  expressly  enacted  that  these  organi 
zations  should  be  "  separate  from  and  independent  of  all  other  military 
organizations  and  commands  whatever  in  the  State,  and  should  be  sub 
ject  solely  to  the  direct  call  of  the  Governor  and  the  regularly  constituted 
civil  authorities,"  for  the  ordinary  duties  of  militia.  Parades  and  military 
exercises  were  required  upon  at  least  three  set  days  in  each  year ;  also, 
an  encampment,  to  continue  not  less  than  three  days,  during  the  months 
of  July,  August,  or  September. 


THE   GUTHRIE   GREYS.  25 

David  A.  Enyart  and  James  V.  Guthrie  as  captains  of  the 
first  and  second  companies,  respectively,  under  Major  Bos- 
ley.* 

On  July  llth  of  this  year,  began  the  well-remembered  en 
campment  of  the  Greys  at  Middletown,  in  Butler  County,  con 
tinuing  eight  days.  A  large  number  of  invited  guests  were 
present,  including  several  newspaper  reporters  from  Cincinnati. 
The  occasion  passed  off  with  great  eclat,  and  was  keenly  en 
joyed  by  all.  The  battalion  participated  in  the  ceremonies 
upon  the  reception  of  the  legislatures  of  Kentucky  and  Ten 
nessee,  January  27th,  1860,  and  extended  soldierly  hospitalities 
to  the  Chicago  Zouaves,  when  that  famous  company  visited 
Cincinnati,  under  command  of  the  lamented  Ellsworth,  in 
August  of  the  same  year.  In  February,  1861,  it  formed  a  por 
tion  of  the  escort  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  President  elect,  on  his 
passage  through  the  Queen  City  toward  Washington.  It  re 
ceived  many  invitations  from  abroad  to  join  with  other  corps 
in  encampments,  and  to  assist  at  various  fetes,  but  these  were 
always  "  respectfully  declined."  The  following  entry  occurs  in 
the  minutes  of  the  meeting,  August  13th,  1860:  "A  communi 
cation  from  General  Buckner,  of  the  Kentucky  militia,  inviting 
the  battalion  to  attend  an  encampment  on  the  23d  instant,  was 
read  and  received.  On  motion,  the  invitation  was  respectfully 

*  The  other  officers  were  as  follows  :  Adjutant,  John  Woolley  ;  Quarter 
master,  B.  R.  Wilson ;  Paymaster,  Henry  McAlpin ;  Surgeon,  F.  H. 
Ehrman;  Ensign,  W.  S.  Irwin;  Judge-Advocate,  E.  M.  Shoemaker;  Ser 
geant-Major,  A.  G.  Parker ;  Recording  Secretary,  John  W.  Morgan ;  Cor 
responding  Secretary,  Wm.  Disney. 

First  Company — First  Lieutenant,  A.  C.  Christopher ;  Second  Lieuten 
ant,  E.  Loring;  Third  Lieutenant,  M.  A.  Westcott. 

Second  Company — First  Lieutenant,  J.  N.  Oliver;  Second  Lieutenant,. 
Julian  White;  Third  Lieutenant,  G.  Shillito  Smith. 


26  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

declined."  Before  the  close  of  the  next  year,  General  Buckner 
found  many  of  the  Greys,  and  not  a  few  other  Northern  sol 
diers,  more  than  willing  to  attend  his  encampments,  even  though 
invitations  were  wanting. 

Only  once  were  the  Greys  called  upon  to  assist  the  civil 
authorities  in  preserving  order.  On  the  night  of  January  9th, 
1861,  two  policemen,  named  Long  and  Hallam,  were  mur 
dered,  under  circumstances  which  greatly  excited  all  classes  of 
citizens.  The  next  evening  a  crowd  of  some  thousands  col 
lected  before  the  jail,  at  the  corner  of  Hunt  and  Sycamore 
Streets,  threatening  to  force  the  building  and  lynch  the  men 
charged  with  the  crime.  "  By  courage  and  firmness,  how 
ever,"  says  the  Gazette  of  the  next  morning,  "  the  officers  of  the 
jail  prevented  the  crowd  from  carrying  out  its  summary  inten 
tions,  and  the  Guthrie  Greys  soon  arriving,  the  assemblage 
dispersed."  At  the  next  meeting  the  battalion  donated  to  the 
widows  of  the  murdered  policemen  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  amount  "paid  it  by  the  county  commissioners  for  serv 
ices  rendered  in  defense  of  the  jail."  The  money  was  at  once 
paid  over  through  the  agency  of  Mayor  Bishop. 

As  the  annual  election,  on  Monday,  April  1st,  of  this  year, 
drew  near,  the  canvass  for  many  of  the  offices  grew  quite 
animated.  The  successful  candidates  (being  the  officers  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war)  were  as  follows : 

Adjutant,  E.  Loring;  Quartermaster,  W.  Byron  Carter; 
Paymaster,  G.  H.  Barbour ;  Surgeon,  F.  H.  Ehrman ;  Judge- 
Advocate,  J.  V.  Guthrie ;  Ensign,  John  C.  Parker ;  Sergeant- 
Major,  Charles  C.  Pierson ;  Recording  Secretary,  Charles  E. 
Thorp;  Corresponding  Secretary,  William  Disney. 

First  Company — Captain,  Marcus  A.  Westcott ;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  John  M.  Wilson;  Second  Lieutenant,  Henry  McAl- 
pin ;  First  Sergeant,  James  M.  Donovan ;  Sergeants,  Frank 


THE   GUTHRIE   GREYS.  27 

Tait,  Ammi  Baldwin,  and  Charles  E.  Thorp ;  Corporals,  J. 
C.  Gnthrie,  K  L.  Anderson,  L.  S.  Worthington,  and  B.  R. 
Wilson. 

Second  Company — Captain,  Julian  White ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  J.  Willis  Wilmington;  Second  Lieutenant,  Thomas  S. 
Royse ;  First  Sergeant,  John  H.  Carter ;  Sergeants,  Henry  H. 
Tinker,  Joseph  A.  Andrews,  and  Dudley  S.  Gregory ;  Corpo 
rals,  Charles  B.  Russell,  C.  B.  Frazier,  John  W.  Morgan,  and 
John  Beesley,  Jr. 

Major  Bosley  declined  a  reelection,  and  was  transferred  to 
the  life  honorary  roll,  after  having  commanded  the  corps  for 
six  consecutive  years.  The  choice  of  a  successor  was  by  no 
means  predetermined.  The  hostile  attitude  of  the  lately  se 
ceded  States  was  a  source  of  universal  and  growing  anxiety; 
and  though  all,  save  a  far-seeing  few,  still  cherished  the  hope 
of  a  peaceful  yet  honorable  way  out  of  the  national  difficulties, 
the  possibility  of  war  continued  every-where  to  be  a  theme  of 
daily  discussion.  In  this  disturbed  state  of  public  affairs,  it 
was  natural  that  the  Guthrie  Greys  should  desire  to  have  at 
their  head  a  trained  and  experienced  soldier.  An  entry  in 
the  minutes  for  Monday  evening,  February  4th,  1861,  relates 
that  "  the  name  of  G.  B.  McClellan  was  favorably  reported 
upon  by  the  committee  for  life  honorary  membership,  and 
the  candidate  was  unanimously  elected."  Captain  McClellan, 
who  was  now  in  civil  life,  discharging  the  duties  of  Vice-Pres- 
ident  and  Superintendent  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rail 
road,  and  a  resident  of  Cincinnati,  was  nominated  for  Major 
immediately  upon  Major  Bosley's  formal  declination  of  another 
candidacy,  and  at  the  election  received  every  vote  but  two, 
which  were  blank.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  this  honor 
was  more  than  unsolicited,  for  the  minutes  which  record  the 
election,  proceed:  " Adjutant  E.  Loring  presented  a  communi- 


28  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

cation  from  G.  B.  McClellan,  Esq.,  declaring  his  inability  to 
accept  the  office  of  major  in  the  battalion.  The  subject  was 
referred  to  Comrade  Loring,  who  stated  that  he  would  see 
Mr.  McClellan,  and  get  a  final  answer."  This  final  an 
swer  was  a  courteous  but  positive  iteration  of  his  previous  de 
cision. 

Six  weeks  later,  this  same  "  Mr.  McClellan  "  controlled  one 
of  the  largest  military  departments  in  the  country,  and  within 
sixteen  weeks  found  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  there  becoming  the  incarnation  of  the  faith 
and  hopes  of  eighteen  millions  of  loyal  people.  Nor  was  this 
all.  It  was  but  seven  months,  to  a  day,  when  the  highest 
military  honors  which  had  rewarded  George  Washington  and 
"VYinfield  Scott  were  thrust  upon  him,  and  Major-Gen eral  Mc 
Clellan  became  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Armies  of  the 
United  States. 

Daring  the  early  months  of  1861,  the  political  horizon  con 
tinued  to  darken  daily.  Deep  yet  widely  differing  emotions 
had  thrilled  the  hearts  of  the  people,  when  Major  Anderson, 
on  the  night  of  December  26th,  1860,  transferred  his  little 
garrison  from  Moultrie  to  Fort  Sumter.  At  first,  the  move 
ment  was  not  at  all  understood,  and  the  North  was  but  too 
willing  to  give  credit  to  the  weak  and  vacillating  adminis 
tration  for  a  step  taken  in  direct  defiance  of  the  rebellious 
spirit  of  South  Carolina  and  her  fellow-conspirators.  For  a 
short-lived  hour  of  exultancy,  loyal  men  abandoned  themselves 
to  the  fond  belief  that  they  yet  had  a  Government  in  some 
thing  more  than  merely  a  name,  and  that  Government  a  pur 
pose.  They  were  soon  undeceived.  But  Major  Anderson 
and  his  one  brave,  immortal  act  were  tangible  realities,  and 
around  it  and  him  rallied  the  awakening  enthusiasm  of  thou 
sands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  true  hearts  the  country  over. 


THE   GUTHEIE   GREYS.  29 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Guthrie  Greys  held  after  this  event 
— on  the  7th  of  January,  1861 — was  a  large  and  enthusiastic 
one.  The  following  resolution  was  offered  :  "Resolved,  That 
the  armory  of  the  I.  G.  G.  be  thrown  open  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  military  companies  to  meet  the  emergencies  of  the 
times,  and  that  the  officers  and  members  tender  their  services 
to  assist  in  drilling  the  same.  Also,  that  a  committee  be  ap 
pointed  to  devise  means  for  carrying  out  the  above."  Al 
though  this  resolution  failed  of  adoption,  it  was  promptly 
voted,  at  the  same  meeting,  "that  this  battalion  fire  a  salute 
of  one  hundred  guns  on  the  Public  Landing,  in  honor  of  Ma 
jor  Anderson  and  the  Union,"  which  was  accordingly  done 
next  day. 

A  fortnight  later,  two  nephews  of  the  resolute  soldier  thus 
honored,  upon  application  in  due  form,  were  unanimously 
elected  members  of  the  battalion.  Nicholas  L.  Anderson  was 
assigned  to  the  first  company,  and  his  brother,  William  P. 
Anderson,  to  the  second. 

General  Beauregard  opening  fire  upon  Fort  Sumter  on  the 
morning  of  Friday,  April  12th,  the  telegraph,  late  on  Satur 
day  night,  flashed  the  result  of  the  contest  all  over  the  startled 
land.  What  American,  upon  whose  heart  had  fallen  those 
words  of  omen,  "Sumter  surrendered,"  will  ever  forget  the 
Sabbath  day  that  followed?  In  the  newspapers  of  Monday 
morning  appeared  the  President's  proclamation,  calling  out 
"the  militia  of  the  several  States  of  the  Union,  to  the  aggre 
gate  number  of  75,000,"  for  the  period  (as  instructions  from  the 
War  Department  added)  of  three  months,  unless  sooner  dis 
charged.  At  once  the  wild,  passionate  outburst  of  feeling, 
with  which  the  North  was  now  convulsed,  found  direction  and 
definite  purpose;  and,  although  all  have  smiled  since,  while 
recalling  the  crude  and  fanciful  notions  of  that  period,  time  has 


30  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

proven  how  true  at  heart  that  feeling  was  to  the  instincts  of 
the  loftiest  patriotism.  We  have  seen  how  grandly  Ohio  re 
sponded  to  the  demands  upon  her,  and  yet  she  had  no  preem 
inence.  The  whole  nation  brought  its  best  gifts — the  service 
of  its  hands,  its  heart,  its  brain — and  laid  them  down  at  the 
feet  of  the  imperiled  Government. 

Governor  Dennison's  proclamation  was  prepared  the  same 
day,  and  telegraphed  to  all  parts  of  the  State.  The  Guthrie 
Greys  assembled  that  evening  in  special  meeting.  Many  old 
members  attended,  whose  connection  had  lapsed  into  contrib 
uting  or  life  honorary  memberships,  and  several  names  were 
transferred  back  to  the  "active  roll,"  by  acclamation — Captain 
A.  C.  Christopher  and  Charles  H.  Heron  being  among  them. 
Upon  motion  of  the  latter,  and  with  but  one  dissenting  voice, 
the  battalion  passed  the  following  resolutions: 

"  WHEREAS,  Civil  war  has  been  inaugurated  in  our  country  by 
the  forcible  ejection  of  our  soldiers  from  a  Government  fort,  and 
the  President  has  deemed  it  necessary  to  call  out  the  militia  of 
the  several  States,  for  the  protection  of  the  public  property  and  the 
suppression  of  insurrection  ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we,  the  Independent  Guthrie  Greys,  of  Cin 
cinnati,  hereby  tender  our  services,  as  a  military  body,  to  the 
Governor  of  the  State,  to  aid  the  President  in  the  execution  of 
the  laws  and  the  upholding  of  the  Constitution  and  Govern 
ment. 

"Resolved,  That  our  commandant  be  instructed  to  report  us 
ready  for  duty  on  call  of  the  Governor." 

When  the  battalion  re-assembled  on  Tuesday  evening,  which 
it  did  with  Major  Bosley  once  more  in  the  chair,  the  armory 
was  full.  Its  roster,  at  this  date,  included  only  seventy-nine 


THE   GUTHRIE   GREYS.  31 

active  members,  all  told,*  and  tlie  first  action  now  taken  was 
the  appointment  of  "a  special  committee  to  receive  recruits  to 
fill  up  the  roster  of  the  First  and  Second  Companies."  No  re 
ply  had  yet  been  received  from  the  Governor,  but,  as  there 
was  every  reason  to  expect  that  it  would  be  a  favorable  one, 
preparations  were  begun  with  vigor  for  putting  the  corps  into 
the  field  without  delay,  and  in  the  best  condition  possible. 
Recruits  came  forward  by  scores  and  hundreds ;  the  two  com 
panies  were  filled  as  rapidly  as  the  names  could  be  taken 
down,  and  by  the  evening  of  Wednesday,  April  17th,  the  regi 
ment  of  Guthrie  Greys,  then  forming,  had  become  a  theme  of 
general  conversation  throughout  the  city. 

On  the  18th,  several  volunteer  companies  left  Cincinnati  for 
Columbus,  and  being  there  assigned  to  the  First  and  Second 
Regiments  Ohio  Volunteer  Militia,  almost  without  a  halt  were 
hurried  off  toward  Washington.  Meanwhile,  new  develop 
ments  of  treason  and  madder  violence  throughout  the  infatu 
ated  South,  hour  by  hour  fed  the  universal  excitement,  and 
kindled  to  fiercer  heat  the  temper  of  the  people.  More  than 
ten  thousand  men  drilled  nightly  in  Cincinnati  during  the 
week  following  the  fall  of  Sumter.  Practically,  business  was 
ignored;  one  great  distinction,  well-nigh  obliterating  every 
other,  divided  the  citizens  into  two  classes — they  who  were  "  go 
ing  to  camp,"  and  those  who  staid  at  home.  Thousands  of 
the  latter  enrolled  themselves  in  "  home-guard  "  organizations, 
while  the  former  found  scores  of  companies  open  to  their 
choice,  and  each  cast  in  his  lot  with  that  one  of  the  number 
which  best  pleased  him.  Under  these  circumstances,  recruit 
ing  went  forward  with  wonderful  rapidity  and  ease.  The 
making  up  of  a  picnic  party  or  a  pleasure  excursion  could 

*  See  roster  of  the  Independent  Guthrie  Greys,  in  Appendix. 


32  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

hardly  have  been  managed  with  more  facility.  In  two  or 
three  weeks,  when  the  mustering  officer  had  molded  the  cha 
otic  materials  aggregated  at  Camps  Harrison  and  Clay  into 
some  sort  of  denned  shape,  there  stood  forth  six  regiments — 
the  Fifth,  Sixth,  Ninth  and  Tenth  Ohio,  and  the  First  and 
Second  Kentucky. 


THE  THREE-MONTHS'  SERVICE.  33 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    THREE-MONTHS'    SERVICE. 

(APRIL  1&-JUNE  16,  1861.) 

ON  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  of  April,  1861,  the  telegraph 
brought  news  of  the  murderous  assault  upon  the  Sixth 
Massachusetts,  in  its  passage  through  Baltimore,  which  gave 
recruiting  a  greater  impetus  than  ever,  and  before  the  Greys 
closed  their  armory  that  night  they  had  enrolled  about  eight 
hundred  names.  In  the  evening,  Colonel  McCook's  German 
regiment — now  historically  famous  as  the  Ninth  Ohio — pa 
raded  the  streets,  nine  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  with  three 
bands  of  music,  and  created  the  wildest  enthusiasm.  A  few 
hours  earlier,  Major-General  Lytle,  commanding  the  "  First 
Division  Ohio  Volunteer  Militia,"  received  telegraphic  orders 
from  Columbus  to  establish  a  camp  of  rendezvous  near  Cin 
cinnati,  to  be  named  Camp  Harrison.  He  promptly  selected 
for  this  purpose  the  Cincinnati  Trotting  Park,  distant  from 
the  city  about  seven  miles,  on  the  line  of  the  Cincinnati, 
Hamilton  and  Dayton  Railroad,  and  began  energetic  prepara 
tions  for  organizing  the  new  camp. 

At  that  time  the  vacant  Orphan  Asylum  lot,  on  Elm  Street, 
was  the  customary  city  parade  ground,  and  there,  with  a  few 
other  companies,  the  regiment  of  Greys  assembled  during  Sat 
urday  forenoon,  April  20th,  and  at  3  P.  M.,  marched  out  the 
3 


34  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Hamilton  Road  to  Camp  Harrison.  The  detachment  was  ac 
companied  by  Menter's  Brass  Band,  which  the  Guthrie  Greys 
succeeded  in  retaining  by  private  contributions,  until  the  regi 
ment  reorganized  for  three  years.  Reaching  the  park  at  dusk, 
the  men  were  promptly  dismissed  to  supper  and  the  novelties 
of  the  first  night  in  camp.  Including  two  or  three  companies 
which  had  arrived  by  an  afternoon  train,  the  whole  number 
present  was  about  sixteen  hundred.  Of  these,  Companies  A 
and  B  (the  old  organization)  of  the  Greys,  had  their  own  tents 
and  equipages;  the  remainder  found  shelter  and  a  plentiful  sup* 
ply  of  fresh  straw  in  the  wooden  buildings  belonging  to  the 
grounds.  The  next  day,  Sabbath,  an  immense  stream  of  vis 
itors  poured  out  from  Cincinnati  toward  camp,  where  drilling 
went  on  vigorously  till  near  sundown,  when  Major  Bosley 
held  a  dress  parade  of  the  entire  force.  Destitute  of  arms  and 
uniforms  as  they  were,  the  men  were  no  worse  off  than  the 
majority  of  the  officers,  while  the  military  acquirements  of  the 
recruits  in  very  few  instances  extended  much  beyond  the  fac 
ings.  But  fourteen  hundred  men  in  line  was,  of  itself,  an  im 
posing  display  for  those  days ;  the  music  furnished  was  of 
Menter's  best,  and  all  were  in  fine  spirits ;  and  the  spectators 
seemed  highly  gratified  with  what  they  had  witnessed  of  "  the 
pomp,  the  pride,  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war.7' 

Visitors  continued  to  throng  the  camp,  the  railroad  company 
running  a  special  train  for  the  accommodation  of  those  who 
wished  to  remain  for  dress  parade ;  and,  as  admission  was  open 
to  all,  and  few  came  empty-handed,  soldier-life  at  Camp  Har 
rison  became  simply  a  kind  of  protracted  picnic.  Says  the 
Cincinnati  Gazette  of  April  23d :  "  We  found  the  road  to  camp 
dotted  with  carriages,  protruding  from  which  might  be  seen 
baskets  and  bottles,  all  filled  with  the  good  things  of  this  life, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  bundles  transported  in  omnibuses  and 


35 

railroad  cars.  Indeed,  we  fear  that,  while  our  volunteers  are 
stationed  so  near  the  metropolis  in  which  they  have  so  many 
friends  and  relatives,  they  will  not  be  permitted  to  experience 
much  of  real  camp  life,  except  so  far  as  drills  and  orders  are 
concerned.  There  is  considerable  patriotism  shown  in  refusing 
to  eat  mess  pork  at  the  expense  of  Uncle  Sam,  when  Davis1 
sugar-cured  is  furnished  in  abundance  by  the  plethoric  purses 
of  loyal  citizens,  not  to  mention  the  enthusiasm  excited  by  the 
fact  that  the  gambrel  of  the  deceased  quadruped,  in  most  cases, 
is  handsomely  bedecked  with  tri-colored  ribbons,  attached  by 
the  dainty  fingers  of  loved  ones."  About  the  close  of  April, 
the  command  of  Camp  Harrison  devolved  upon  Brigadier- 
General  Joshua  H.  Bates — like  General  Lytle,  a  militia  of 
ficer,  and  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Cincinnati.  One  of  his  first 
acts  was  to  issue  an  order  forbidding  the  influx  of  visitors,  be 
cause  seriously  interfering  with  the  requirements  of  military 
discipline,  as  it  obviously  was;  but  the  regulation  was  only 
partially  effectual,  so  that,  in  pleasant  weather,  crowds  of 
wondering  and  admiring  friends  might  always  have  been  found 
in  camp,  repeating  their  good-byes  at  each  successive  visit, 
with  unflagging  fervor. 

Meantime,  the  number  of  volunteers  assembled  at  Camp 
Harrison  had  largely  increased.  Colonel  McCook's  German 
regiment  came  out  on  the  24th  of  April ;  the  "  Montgomery 
regiment "  followed,  but  in  detachments — for  the  Tenth  Ohio 
was  a  somewhat  heterogeneous  body,  and  in  its  formation  en 
countered  unusual  difficulties ;  other  companies,  afterward  in 
corporated  into  the  Fifth  Ohio,  also  took  up  quarters  in  camp ; 
and  thus,  by  the  beginning  of  May,  the  "  Cincinnati  Brigade" 
was  completed.  The  duty  of  mustering  these  troops  was  as 
signed  to  Captain  Gordon  Granger,  of  the  regular  army,  who 
arrived  in  Cincinnati  on  the  26th  of  April,  and,  hastening 


36  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

out  to  Camp  Harrison,  mustered  every  company  of  the  Ger 
man  regiment  before  tattoo.  On  Saturday,  the  27th,  the 
Guthrie  Grey  regiment  was  mustered ;  comparatively  few  were 
rejected,  and  they  were  indeed  objects  of  universal  commisera 
tion.  Many  amusing  stratagems  were  practiced  for  the  con 
ciliation  of  the  inspector.  One  of  the  officers,  an  old  member 
of  the  Guthrie  Grey  battalion,  had  been  left  at  home,  pros 
trated  by  an  attack  of  fever.  He  was  just  convalescing,  when 
word  was  brought  that  the  mustering  officer  was  in  camp,  and 
he  must  be  on  hand  next  day,  if  possible.  Painting  his 
cheeks  to  hide  their  pallor,  he  rode  out  to  camp  in  a  hack, 
managed  to  keep  his  feet  throughout  the  inspection,  and,  pass 
ing  muster  without  a  query,  afterward  became  one  of  the  most 
efficient  subalterns  in  the  brigade. 

The  following  is  a  roster  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  the  three- 
months'  service.  The  field  officers  were  elected  April  24th  : 

Field  and  Staff — Colonel,  William  K.  Bosley ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  Eliphalet  Loring ;  Major,  Alexander  C.  Christopher; 
Adjutant,  Nicholas  L.  Anderson;  Quartermaster,  Edward  M. 
Shoemaker ;  Surgeon,  Starling  Loving ;  Assistant-Surgeon, 
Fisher  W.  Ames. 

Company  A — Captain,  Marcus  A.  Westcott ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  John  M.  Wilson ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Henry  Me Alpin. 

Company  B — Captain,  Julian  White;  First  Lieutenant,  J. 
Willis  Wilmington ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Thomas  S.  Royse. 

Company  C — Captain,  John  C.  Lane;  First  Lieutenant, 
John  A.  Asbury ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  H.  Titus. 

Company  D — Captain,  Frank  H.  Ehrman ;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  John  C.  Parker;  Second  Lieutenant,  Ezekiel  H. 
Tatem.  -.  • 

Company  E — Captain,  Samuel  C.  Erwin ;  First  Lieutenant, 
John  F.  Hoy ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Lewis  S.  Worthington. 


THE  THREE-MONTHS'  SERVICE.  37 

Company  F — Captain,  G.  Shillito  Smith ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Charles  H.  Brutton;  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  H.  Heron. 

Company  G — Captain,  Anthony  O.  Russell;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  William  S.  Getty ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Jules  J.  Mon- 
tagnier. 

Company  H — Captain,  Henry  H.  Tinker ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  John  W.  Morgan ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Edgar  M.  John 
son,  v 

Company  I —  Captain,  James  Bense ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Richard  Southgate ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  F.  Porter. 

Company  K — Captain,  Julius  C.  Guthrie;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  Frank  M.  Hulburd;  Second  Lieutenant,  Augustus  B. 
Billerbeck. 

At  this  date  the  regiment  numbered  scarcely  eight  hundred 
men,  or  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  less  than  the  maximum 
strength  prescribed  by  the  War  Department  a  few  days  later.* 
Colonel  Bosley  at  once  detailed  a  recruiting  party,  but  al 
though  the  Guthrie  Grey  armory  in  Cincinnati  was  again 
thrown  open,  and  a  number  of  recruits  obtained,  the  strength 
of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  in  the  three-months'  service,  never  much 
exceeded  nine  hundred  men. 

The  first  half  of  May  was  characterized  by  an  unusual  amount 
of  wet  and  chilly  weather.  A  rain,  which  set  in  on  the  evening 
of  the  2d,  and  continued  all  the  next  day,  was  particularly 
the  cause  of  great  discomfort.  The  "  shanties  "  leaked  at  al 
most  every  joint ;  they  had  no  floors,  and  in  many  of  them 
the  men  awoke  during  the  night  to  find  themselves  lying  in 
puddles  of  water ;  and,  to  add  to  the  general  discontent,  some 

*  General  Orders  No.  15,  dated  May  4th,  1861,  fixed  the  maximum  at 
1,046  men.  It  is  impossible  to  give  the  exact  strength  of  the  three- 
months'  regiment,  as  the  only  muster-rolls  ever  made  out  are  either  lost  or 
buried  among  the  files  of  the  War  Department  at  Washington. 


38  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

changes  in  the  commissary  arrangements  at  camp,  which  took 
place  just  at  this  time,  occasioned  what  the  men  considered  a 
scarcity  of  rations.  A  year  later,  the  same  troops,  under  far 
more  disadvantageous  circumstances,  would  have  made  them 
selves  perfectly  comfortable,  but  now,  officers  and  men  were 
alike  green,  and  their  complaints  were  loud  and  bitter.  Sym 
pathizing  friends  repeated  the  story  of  their  woes,  and  the 
Cincinnati  papers  discussed  the  sad  details  in  lugubrious  edi 
torials.  When  the  Sabbath  came,  May  5th,  many  congrega 
tions  were  appealed  to  from  the  pulpit  for  contributions  of 
food  and  clothing  for  the  suffering  volunteers,  and,  within  an 
hour,  General  Lytle's  head-quarters  were  besieged  by  an  anx 
ious  throng,  laden  with  parcels,  boxes,  bundles,  and  baskets, 
and  blankets  by  the  hundred.  Acceptable  as  the  relief  was, 
it  had  an  injurious  effect  when  continued  for  days  after  all 
need  had  passed  away,  and  eventually  the  troops  suffered  in 
important  soldierly  qualities  from  the  well-meant  but  injudi 
cious  pampering  of  friends. 

The  ennui  which  naturally  succeeded  as  soon  as  the  novelty 
of  camp  life  wore  off,  was  greatly  relieved  by  the  visits  of 
friends  and  occasional  passes  to  the  city ;  for  the  rest,  the  men 
were  thrown  upon  their  own  resources.  These,  among  the 
Guthries,  were  ready  and  varied  enough — boxing,  fencing,  gym 
nastic  exercises,  town-ball,  base-ball,  and  other  active  sports ; 
cards,  checkers,  and  chess ;  amateur  negro  minstrel  and  circus 
performances,  etc.  For  the  more  refined  tastes,  there  were 
readings  and  recitations  by  a  few  admirable  elocutionists,  pre 
eminent  among  whom  was  Corporal  William  E.  Sheridan, 
who  had  given  up  a  good  situation  at  Pike's  Opera  House  to 
enlist  in  Company  B.  In  a  lighter  vein,  private  Alfred 
Burnett,  of  Company  G,  had  no  rival,  and  his  "  delineations  " 
were  never  better  received  than  here  among  his  comrades  at 


39 

Camp  Harrison.  Music  and  merriment  regularly  ruled  the 
hour  in  many  squads,  until  broken  in  upon  by  the  sounds  of 
tattoo;  and,  every  thing  considered,  the  " bully  Ninth/7  with 
all  the  lager  which  patriotic  Teutons  supplied  without  stint, 
were  hardly  more  at  ease  or  better  contented  than  were  the 
Guthrie  Greys. 

For  weeks  the  troops  at  Camp  Harrison  anxiously  awaited 
marching  orders.  At  first  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  Wash 
ington  and  the  Potomac,  but  as  the  vast  length  of  that  line 
which  marked  the  boundary  of  hostile  territory,  began  to  be 
realized,  diverse  and  ever-shifting  rumors  associated  with  the 
Capital  the  Western  names  of  Cairo  and  Missouri.  It  is 
creditable  to  both  officers  and  men,  that,  in  spite  of  consid 
erable  delay  in  obtaining  arms  and  uniforms,  a  good  degree 
of  interest  in  the  duties  of  camp  routine  was  still  kept  up,  and 
some  progress  made  in  forming  soldiers  out  of  raw  volunteers. 
At  length,  on  the  16th  of  May,  3,500  stand  of  arms  were  dis 
tributed  at  Camp  Harrison,  and  the  Greys  received  a  full' 
armament  of  853  muskets,  and  were  also  furnished  414  uni 
forms  of  the  distinctive  pattern,  in  gray  cloth,  of  the  old  bat 
talion,  which  were  paid  for  by  private  contributions.  The 
regiment  was  now  in  buoyant  spirits,  wrhich  the  reception  of 
bona  fide  marching  orders  greatly  heightened,  though  indicat 
ing  nothing  more  than  a  removal  to  Camp  Dennison.  Start 
ing  at  seven  o'clock  on  Friday  morning,  May  17th,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  marched  through  Cumminsville,  and  down  Spring  Grove 
Avenue  to  Brighton,  and  thence  to  the  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Elm  Streets,  where  it  was  broken  into  column  by  platoon, 
stretching  from  curb  to  curb,  and,  with  Menter's  Band  at  the 
head,  took  up  its  line  of  march  through  the  heart  of  Cin 
cinnati. 

A  full  regiment  of  armed  men  being  a  novel  and  imposing 


40  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

spectacle  for  those  days,  the  streets  were  thronged  with  cheer 
ing  crowds  along  the  entire  route,  and  at  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Vine  Streets,  where  a  densely-packed  assemblage  had  gath 
ered,  the  volunteers  received  a  perfect  ovation.*  Says  the 
Cincinnati  Commercial,  of  the  next  morning :  "  The  appear 
ance  of  the  regiment  was  decidedly  soldier-like,  imposing,  and 
impressive.  The  step  was  regular  and  steady,  the  alignment 
of  each  platoon  was  well  maintained,  distances  were  well  pre 
served,  and  the  wheel  and  turn  executed  with  a  precision  that 
proved  the  four  weeks  spent  in  camp  had  not  been  thrown 
away.  Four  companies  were  uniformed,  two  on  each  flank ; 
the  remainder  wore  shirts  of  uniform  color,  and  nearly  all 
were  furnished  with  caps,  so  that  the  appearance  of  those  not 
fully  equipped  was  by  no  means  unpleasing. 

"As  the  head  of  the  column  arrived  opposite  the  residence 
of  Larz  Anderson,  Esq.,  at  the  corner  of  Pike  and  Third 
Streets,  Colonel  Anderson  f  appeared  upon  the  steps,  and  ex 
changed  salutes  with  the  officers.  When  the  colors  approached, 
he  passed  out  to  the  curb,  and  stood  with  uncovered  head 
while  they  dipped,  and  so  remained  until  the  rear  of  the  regi 
ment  had  passed. 

"At  the  depot  an  immense  throng  of  fathers  and  mothers, 
brothers  and  sisters,  wives  and  sweethearts,  greeted  the  volun- 

*  Mr.  William  P.  Noble,  the  well-known  artist  in  water-colors  (who  was 
an  old  member  of  the  Greys,  and,  in  1860,  a  lieutenant  in  one  of  the 
companies),  contributed  a  spirited  sketch  of  this  scene  to  Harper's  Weekly. 
The  line  of  march  through  the  city  was  as  follows :  From  the  Brighton 
House  down  Central  Avenue  to  Seventh,  east  on  Seventh  to  Elm,  south 
on  Elm  to  Fourth,  east  on  Fourth  to  Vine,  south  on  Vine  to  Third,  east 
on  Third  to  Main,  north  on  Main  to  Fourth,  east  on  Fourth  to  Pike,  south 
on  Pike  to  Front,  east  on  Front  to  the  Little  Miami  Depot 

f  This  was  the  honored  defender  of  Fort  Sumter,  who  had  arrived  in 
Cincinnati  on  the  preceding  day. 


THE   THREE-MONTHS7   SERVICE.  41 

teers.  Each,  anxious  to  see  his  own  particular  loved  one, 
pushed,  crowded,  and  elbowed  about,  regardless  of  the  rights, 
liberties,  and  corns  of  his  neighbors.  In  the  general  squabble, 
coats  were  torn,  trowsers  fractured,  and  hoops  crushed  like 
egg-shells.  As  the  whistle  sounded,  pictures  were  given, 
pocket  money  supplied,  and  kisses  exchanged.  But  finding 
that  the  cars  did  not  move,  many  entered  them,  determined  to 
have  the  last  word  possible.  Among  these  was  a  bevy  of 
young  ladies  who  stuck  to  the  B's  closer  than  brothers,  and 
adroitly  managed  to  let  the  cars  carry  them  off.  Despite  their 
protestations,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  the  girls  were  happy  as 
little  birds.  Of  course  the  good-by  and  kissing  part  of  the 
programme  was  repeated  ad  libitum." 

The  regiment  reached  Camp  Dennison  about  one  o'clock, 
nearly  an  hour  behind  the  Tenth  Ohio,  which  had  marched 
across  the  country,  and  felt  quite  proud  of  the  achievement. 
The  Fifth  and  Ninth  regiments  following  next  day,  Camp 
Harrison  was  broken  up,  after  an  occupation  of  exactly  four 
weeks. 

Camp  Dennison,  situated  on  the  Little  Miami,  Columbus 
and  Xenia  Railroad,  fifteen  miles  from  Cincinnati,  was  a  well- 
chosen  location,  with  the  important  advantages,  among  others, 
of  accessibility,  abundance  of  water,  and  ample  space.  The 
site  was  selected  by  General  McClellan,  then  commanding  the 
Department  of  the  Ohio,  and  leased  on  the  27th  of  April. 
The  camp  was  laid  off  by  Captain  Rosecrans,  formerly  a  reg 
ular  officer  in  the  Engineer  Corps,  and,  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  war,  a  fellow-townsman  with  General  McClellan,  upon 
whose  staff  he  was  now  serving,  though  without  regular  ap 
pointment.  The  Camp  Dennison  regiments,  and  indeed  the 
whole  country,  were  to  know  more  of  him  by  and  by.  The 
first  body  of  troops  which  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Dennisou 


42  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

consisted  of  fifteen  companies  (the  Eleventh  Ohio  and  five 
companies  of  the  Third),  transferred  thither  from  Columbus, 
on  the  29th  of  April.  The  " Cincinnati  Brigade"  was  of 
ficially  designated  the  First.  The  Second  Brigade,  comprising 
the  Fourth,  Seventh,  Eighth  and  Eleventh  Ohio,  and  the 
Third  Brigade,  composed  of  the  Third,  Twelfth,  and  Thir 
teenth  Ohio,  were  earlier  on  the  ground.  These  brigades  were 
respectively  commanded  by  Brigadier-Generals  Joshua  H. 
Bates,  Jacob  D.  Cox,  and  Newton  Schleich  (all  of  the  old 
volunteer  militia),  and  numbered,  in  all,  a  little  over  ten  thou 
sand  men.  To  General  Bates,  as  the  senior  officer,  now  fell  the 
direction  of  affairs  at  Camp  Dennison,  and  General  Cox,  who 
had  previously  discharged  the  duties  of  post  commandant, 
returned  to  the  command  of  his  brigade. 

The  new-comers  were  assigned  pleasant  quarters  on  the  op 
posite  side  of  the  railroad  from  the  Second  and  Third  Brigades, 
between  the  railroad  track  and  the  Little  Miami  River,  which 
ran  a  few  score  rods  directly  in  the  rear.  The  Sixth  Ohio 
took  the  right  of  the  long  line  of  cantonments,  and  the  Ninth 
Ohio  the  left.  All  were  soon  perfectly  at  home  in  their  new 
location ;  the  Greys,  from  their  peculiar  uniforms,  their  prestige, 
and  the  decidedly  chivalrous  bearing  of  some  of  their  number, 
becoming  at  once  the  observed  of  all  observers.  For  a  time, 
their  dress  parade  was  the  event  of  the  day  for  visitors  at 
camp,  but  disintegration  came  with  the  three-years'  question, 
and  then  their  parades  were  deserted  for  the  well-trodden 
drill-grounds  of  the  Ninth  Ohio. 

O 

In  nothing,  perhaps,  was  the  refinement  and  spirit  charac 
teristic  of  the  Guthrie  regiment  shown  more  pleasingly  than 
in  the  neatness  and  taste  with  which  the  men  fitted  up  their 
quarters  at  Camp  Dennison.  Many  of  the  rough,  wooden 
"shanties"  were  transformed  into  the  likeness  of  pleasant 


43 

country  cottages,  by  means  of  lattice- work  porches,  cornices  of 
various  patterns,  pigeon-houses,  and  similar  ornamentation. 
Nearly  every  squad  had  its  own  distinctive  title,  the  most 
common  names  being  those  of  somewhat  obvious  suggestion, 
like  the  "Astor  House,"  the  "Burnett,"  the  "Major  Ander 
son,"  the  "Stars  and  Stripes,"  etc.  Interspersed  with  these, 
however,  were  many  less  tame  and  common-place,  such  as  the 
"  Cradle,"  the  "Charter  Oak,"  the  "Tigers,"  and  the  "Eagle's 
Nest." 

On  the  29th  of  May,  John  Bliven,  a  member  of  Company 
D,  was  drowned  in  the  Little  Miami  River,  and  was  buried 
next  day.  This  was  the  first  death  in  the  Sixth  Ohio.  The 
general  health  of  the  regiment  was  excellent,  from  the  very* 
first. 

Meantime,  the  tramp  of  Northern  troops  marching  south 
ward  to  confront  rebellion  on  its  own  ground,  came  echoing 
from  the  hills  of  Western  Virginia.  About  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  of  May  26th,  General  McClellan,  at  that  hour 
at  Camp  Dennison,  received  a  dispatch,  informing  him  that 
the  secessionists  had  burned  two  bridges  on  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  were  preparing  to  destroy  several 
others  westward  to  Wheeling.  This  startling  intelligence  hast 
ened  movements  which  had  been  in  contemplation  for  some 
days.  Returning  at  once  to  Cincinnati,  General  McClellan 
telegraphed  orders  for  an  advance  into  Western  Virginia,  fol 
lowing  them  immediately  by  two  stirring  proclamations — one  to 
the  Unionists  of  that  region,  and  the  other  to  the  soldiers  un 
der  his  command.  Next  day,  the  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth 
Ohio  crossed  the  Ohio  River  at  Bellair,  and,  joining  the  First 
Virginia,  which  had  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Carlile,  near 
Wheeling,  the  whole  force  moved  out  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 


44  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Railroad  toward  Grafton,  under  command  of  Colonel  B.  F. 
Kelley,  of  the  regiment  last  named.  Simultaneously,  another 
column,  under  Colonel  Steedman,  of  the  Fourteenth  Ohio, 
crossed  at  Marietta,  took  the  cars  at  Parkersburg,  and  pro 
ceeded  along  the  North-western  Virginia  Railroad  toward  the 
same  place.  Among  the  earliest  of  the  reinforcements  that 
Governors  Morton  and  Dennison  promptly  began  pushing  for 
ward,  were  the  Sixth  and  Ninth  Indiana,  which  left  Indian 
apolis,  May  30th. 

Passing  through  Cincinnati  in  the  afternoon,  the  Sixth 
Indiana  reached  Camp  Dennison  about  sundown,  and,  shelter 
less,  prepared  to  pass  the  night.  The  men  were  dusty  and 
weary,  and,  worst  of  all,  their  haversacks  were  empty.  In  a 
short  time,  the  camp  was  all  astir,  and  especially  the  quar 
ters  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  in  which  the  men  turned  out  en 
masse,  furnished  the  Indianians  a  bountiful  supper,  and  stuffed 
their  haversacks  with  rations  for  the  next  day.*  In  those 
early  days  of  the  war,  little  things  were  great,  so  that  the  en 
thusiasm  of  the  whole  North  was  rekindled,  when,  a  few  days 
later,  it  read  of  the  night  march  to  Philippi  which  resulted 
in  the  surprise  and  rout  of  Colonel  Porterfield's  nondescript 
chivalry  in  the  gray  of  an  early  summer  morning.  While 
the  story  possessed  a  fascination  beyond  romance  for  all  the 
troops  at  Camp  Dennison,  the  Guthries  entered  into  it  with 
the  zest  of  a  personal  interest :  their  Indiana  guests,  of  only 
three  nights  before,  had  had  their  full  share  in  the  adventure. 
Thenceforward,  Western  Virginia  was  the  land  of  promise  for 
the  impatient  volunteers. 

*  These  hospitalities  are  gratefully  acknowledged  in  the  sketch  of  the 
Sixth  Indiana,  given  in  Indiana's  Roll  of  Honor,  Volume  I. 


REORGANIZATION.  45 


CHAPTER    III. 
REORGANIZATION. 

(MAY  24-JUNE  28,  1861.) 

SEVERAL  days  before  the  date  referred  to  at  the  close  of 
the  last  chapter,  Camp  Dennison  was  thrown  into  a  fer 
ment  of  excitement  by  the  broaching  of  the  three-years'  ques 
tion — that  of  reenlistment  "  for  three  years  or  during  the  war." 
Reorganization  was  attended  with  many  difficulties,  which  all 
the  efforts  of  the  State  Executive  and  the  functionaries  at 
camp  succeeded  only  partially  in  removing.  One  of  the  prin 
cipal  of  these  related  to  the  appointment  of  officers.  In  the 
three-months'  service  the  volunteers  had  exercised  the  privi 
lege  of  militia  to  elect  their  own  commanders,  while,  under  the 
orders  of  the  President,  and  in  accordance  with  army  regulations, 
the  appointing  power  was  now  vested  solely  in  the  Governor 
of  the  State.  There  was  much  discussion  and  wide-spread  dis 
satisfaction  when  these  regulations  came  to  be  fully  under 
stood  ;  and,  as  the  true  policy  of  the  authorities  evidently  was 
to  secure  to  the  service  as  much  as  possible  of  the  material 
which  was  now  rapidly  assuming  the  character  of  an  army,  it 
was  wisely  decided  to  retain  the  general  organizations  of  the 
regiments,  and,  except  when  manifestly  inexpedient,  to  consult 
the  preferences  of  the  men  in  granting  commissions.  There 
were  other  difficulties,  mainly  of  individual  operation,  which 


46  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

were  not  so  easily  obviated :  personal  jealousies  and  disap 
pointments  ;  the  prospect  of  more  rapid  advancement  in  new 
organizations;  the  reaction,  amounting  to  weariness,  or  even 
disgust,  on  the  part  of  some  fickle  minds,  whom  the  great  wave 
of  popular  excitement  in  the  first  instance  had  carried  into 
camp ;  and  the  urgent  demands  of  domestic  or  other  duties,  in 
some  instances  even  outweighing  the  promptings  of  a  fervent 
patriotism. 

Adjutant-General  Buckingham  graphically  describes  still 
another  serious  perplexity  which  the  authorities  experienced, 
as  follows :  "  When  the  three-years'  recruits  began  to  come 
in,  it  was  found  that  the  presence  of  the  three-months'  men, 
who  had  declined  to  reenlist,  was  the  cause  of  much  incon 
venience,  and  greatly  tended  to  demoralize  the  entire  force. 
The  quarters  were  crowded,  jealousies  sprang  up,  doubts  arose 
as  to  the  rights  of  the  different  classes  of  troops,  ill-feeling 
was  engendered,  and  general  insubordination,  in  most  regi 
ments,  was  the  result.  It  became  absolutely  necessary  to  sep 
arate  the  three-months'  men  from  the  others.  Instead  of 
mustering  them  out  of  the  service,  however,  as  would  seem  to 
have  been  the  proper  method,  no  directions  were  received  from 
the  War  Department  as  to  the  disposition  to  be  made  of  them, 
though  sought  by  the  Governor  and  officers  often  and  ear 
nestly.  At  length  the  colonels  of  the  regiments  took  the 
responsibility  of  sending  their  three-months'  men  home,  on 
furlough,  till  further  orders."  The  mismanagement  that 
characterized  this  whole  matter,  for  several  months  after 
ward  exercised  a  most  unfortunate  effect  upon  recruiting  in 
Ohio. 

On  the  29th  of  May,  the  German  regiment — the  staunch 
and  trusty  old  Ninth  Ohio — re-mustered  almost  to  a  man,  thus 
becoming  one  of  the  very  first  regiments  in  the  whole  country 


REORGANIZATION.  47 

to  commit  itself  to  a  three-years'  service.*  The  Tenth  Ohio 
mustered  about  one  week  later.  At  the  evening  dress  parade 
of  the  Guthrie  Greys,  on  the  24th  of  May,  Adjutant  Ander 
son  made  a  short  address,  explaining  the  new  call  for  troops, 
and  urging  the  command,  by  every  consideration  of  patriotism, 
to  reenlist.  But,  in  addition  to  the  usual  difficulties  attend 
ing  reorganization,  it  was  soon  discovered  that  the  spirit  of 
personal  independence,  and  even  the  intelligence  upon  which 
the  members  prided  themselves,  were  certain  to  prove  great 
hindrances  in  regard  to  the  Guthries.  The  regiment  lost 
prestige  rapidly.  Many  who  were  loud  in  their  laudations  a 
few  weeks  earlier,  suddenly  ranged  themselves  with  its  most 
unreasoning  denouncers;  in  fact,  it  was  only  after  the  Sixth 
Ohio  had  been  marching  and  fighting  at  the  front,  for  many 
months  continuously,  that  one  class  of  patriotic  souls,  pos 
sessed  in  perfect  quiet  at  home,  began  to  comprehend  the 
truth  that  these  things  could  hardly  be  the  work  of  "  feather 
bed  soldiers." 

For  the  Sixth  Ohio,  spite  of  all  discouragements  and  proph 
ecies  of  dissolution,  did  reorganize  with  full  ranks — young 
men  almost  exclusively,  in  sound  health,  active  and  intelligent. 
On  the  10th  of  June  field  officers  were  voted  for,  Colonel 
Bosley  being  reflected  after  a  spirited  canvass,  in  which  many 
had  shown  a  strong  preference  for  Hon.  Stanley  M.  Matthews. 
Captain  Gordon  Granger  and  Professor  Ormsby  M.  Mitchel, 
had  also  been  spoken  of  for  the  colonelcy,  but  declined  being 
candidates,  and  a  few  weeks  afterward  both  were  commissioned 
Brigadier-Generals.  Company  G  (Captain  Anthony  O.  Kus- 

-  *  The  only  complete  three-years'  organization  mustered  in  at  an  earlier 
date,  so  far  as  the  writer  has  any  information  upon  the  subject,  was  the 
Second  Michigan  Infantry,  which  mustered  on  the  25th  of  May,  1,017 
strong. 


48  THE   STORY   OF   A    EEGIMEXT. 

sell's),  which  was  the  first  one  ready,  was  mustered  into  the 
three-years'  service  on  Monday,  June  17th,  by  Lieutenant  T. 
W.  Walker,  of  the  regular  army.  By  the  evening  of  the  next 
day  the  regimental  organization  was  completed,  though  recruits 
continued  to  offer  themselves  for  some  days  afterward,  and 
were  welcomed  as  long  as  any  place  remained  for  them. 

Meanwhile  the  reorganized  regiments  began  moving  toward 
Western  Virginia.  The  Ninth  Ohio  left  for  Clarksburg  on 
the  morning  of  Sunday,  June  16th,  accompanied  by  Captain 
Loomis'  battery,  from  Coldwater,  Michigan,  which  had  been 
resting  at  Camp  Dennison  for  the  previous  two  weeks,  and 
was  destined  to  a  long  and  brilliant  career  in  the  field.  The 
Third  and  Fourth  Ohio  followed  on  the  21st,  and  a  detach 
ment  of  BurdsaPs  cavalry  on  the  night  of  the  23d.  General 
McClellan,  whose  escort  the  latter  were  to  be,  had  preceded 
them  in  a  special  train,  three  days  before,  and  was  in  personal 
command  in  the  field.  At  noon  of  the  24th,  the  Tenth  Ohio 
took  its  departure.  "With  their  own  new  banner,  presented 
them  two  days  ago,  waving  above  them,  and  escorted  by  the 
Sixth  Ohio  to  the  cars,  the  Montgorneries,"  says  one  account, 
"  were  a  proud  set  of  fellows,  and  as  happy  as  if  going  to  a 
wake."  The  Sixth  daily  grew  more  and  more  impatient ;  but, 
happily,  the  routine  of  drills  and  camp  duty,  into  which  the 
regiment  had  again  settled,  afforded  neither  officers  nor  men 
much  time  for  idleness,  while  it  was  still  enlivened  by  frequent 
interchanges  of  visits  with  friends,  etc.,  as  well  as  extraordinary 
occasions  in  the  line  of  duty.  On  the  17th  of  June,  General 
McClellan  reviewed  the  First  Brigade,  which  had  just  suffered 
the  loss  of  the  well-trained  Ninth,  and  expressed  himself  well 
pleased  with  its  progress  in  drill.  A  much  greater  event  to 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  however,  was  the  reception,  on  the  24th,  of  a 
regimental  banner,  presented  by  Rev.  Kingston  Goddard, 


REORGANIZATION.  49 

rector  of  Christ  Church,  on  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  Cincinnati, 
and  accepted,  on  the  part  of  the  regiment,  by  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Anderson.  The  banner,  which  was  originally  intended 
for  the  three-months'  organization,  was  six  feet  square,  made 
of  the  finest  silk,  and  bore  this  inscription,  in  elegant  embroid 
ery  :  "  Guthrie  Greys,  Sixth  Kegiment — Ohio."  It  was  borne 
through  all  the  campaigns  of  the  regiment  up  to  within  three 
weeks  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  then  being  replaced  by 
another,  the  gift  of  the  City  of  Cincinnati. 

The  following  were  the  officers  with  whom  the  Sixth  Ohio 
took  the  field,  their  commissions  bearing  date  June  12th,  al 
though  not  received  until  some  days  later : 

Field  and  Staff — Colonel,  William  K.  Bosley ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  Nicholas  L.  Anderson  ;  Major,  Alexander  C.  Christo 
pher;  Adjutant,  Charles  H.  Heron;  Quartermaster,  Edward 
M.  Shoemaker ;  Surgeon,  Starling  Loving ;  Assistant-Surgeon, 
Fisher  W.  Ames. 

Company  A — Captain,  Marcus  A.  Westcott ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  Henry  McAlpin ;  Second  Lieutenant,  James  M.  Donovan. 

Company  B — Captain,  Joseph  A.  Andrews;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  Charles  B.  Russell ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Thomas  S. 
Royse. 

Company  C — Captain,  J.  Willis  Wilmington ;  First  Lieu 
tenant,  Frank  H.  Ehrman ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Charles  Gil- 
man.  In  this  company  none  of  the  three-months'  officers 
remained. 

Company  D — Captain,  Ezekiel  H.  Tatem ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  John  C.  Parker ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Thomas  H.  Boylan. 

Company  E — Captain,  Samuel  C.  Erwin ;  First  Lieutenant, 
John  F.  Hoy ;  Second  Lieutenant,  George  W.  Morris. 

Company  F — Captain,  Charles  H.  Brutton ;  First  Lieuten- 
4 


50  THE   STOEY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

ant,  vacancy,  occasioned  by  Lieutenant  Heron's  appointment 
as  Adjutant;  Second  Lieutenant,  Frank  S.  Schieffer. 

Company  G — Captain,  Anthony  O.  Russell ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  William  S.  Getty;  Second  Lieutenant,  Jules  J.  Mon- 
tagnier — the  same  officers  throughout  as  in  the  three-months' 
service. 

Company  H — Captain,  Henry  H.  Tinker ;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  John  W.  Morgan ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Solomon  Bidwell. 

Company  I —  Captain,  James  Bense ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Richard  Southgate ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Benjamin  F.  West. 

Company  K — Captain,  Charles  M.  Clarke;  First  Lieuten 
ant,  Augustus  B.  Billerbeck;  Second  Lieutenant,  Justin  M. 
Thatcher. 

Non-commissioned  Staff — Sergeant-Major,  William  P.  An 
derson  ;  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  Charles  C.  Peck ;  Hospital 
Steward,  John  A.  West ;  Chief  Musicians,  Jacob  A.  Fifer  and 
Benjamin  F.  Phillips. 

With  the  leading  incidents  in  Colonel  Bosley's  career  the 
reader  is  already  acquainted. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Nicholas  L.  Anderson — a  grandson  of 
Nicholas  Longworth,  and  a  nephew  of  General  Robert  Ander 
son,  and  also  of  Colonel  Charles  Anderson,  ex- Governor  of  Ohio 
— was  born  in  Cincinnati,  April  22d,  1838.  He  graduated  with 
distinction  at  Harvard  College,  in  1858,  after  a  four-years' 
course,  and  immediately  went  to  Europe,  where  he  remained 
about  two  years,  improving  the  time  in  travel  and  studies  at 
the  German  universities.  Induced  to  return  home  in  the  win 
ter  of  1860-61,  by  the  disturbed  condition  of  aifairs  in  this 
country,  he  began  the  study  of  the  law,  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Stanley  M.  Matthews,  in  Cincinnati.  His  membership  in  the 
Guthrie  Grey  battalion,  as  also  his  connection  with  the  three- 


REORGANIZATION.  51 

months7  regiment,  as  adjutant,  has  been  already  noted.  From 
this  date  onward,  for  three  years  of  most  honorable  service  at 
the  front,  Colonel  Anderson's  identity  is  merged  in  that  of  the 
regiment  which  he  commanded. 

Alexander  C.  Christopher,  the  first  Major  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  is  a  life-long  resident  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  born 
on  the  20th  of  August,  1823.  He  was  educated  at  the  old 
Woodward  College,  the  original  of  one  of  the  Queen  City's 
most  honored  educational  institutions.  From  1851  to  1858, 
he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  contributing  members  enrolled  by  the  company  of 
Guthrie  Greys,  but  soon  exchanged  this  connection  for  an  act 
ive  membership,  which  he  resigned  in  March,  1861,  after  three 
or  four  years'  continuous  service  as  lieutenant  and  captain,  and 
was  then  transferred  to  the  life  honorary  roll.  At  the  out 
break'  of  the  war,  he  held  the  office  of  deputy  sheriff  of 
Hamilton  County,  but  promptly  vacated  it,  to  accompany  the 
Guthrie  Grey  regiment  to  Camp  Harrison,  in  the  capacity  of 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  D.  A  few  days  after  going  into 
camp,  however,  he  was  appointed  major,  and,  at  the  reorgani 
zation  of  the  regiment,  was  again  elected  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

Dr.  Starling  Loving  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  in  early 
life  removed  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  at  the 
Starling  Medical  College,  in  1849 ;  soon  after  which,  he  re 
ceived  the  appointment  of  house  surgeon  to  Bellevue  Hos 
pital,  New  York.  This  position  he  retained  but  a  short  time, 
in  March,  1850,  becoming  assistant  physician  to  BlackwelPs 
Island  Hospital.  Here  his  health  suffered  so  severely  that,  in 
November,  1851,  he  was  compelled  to  resign;  but,  upon  his 
return,  after  an  absence  of  sixteen  months  in  the  West  Indies, 
he  was  again  appointed  at  Blackwell's  Island  Hospital,  as 
house  surgeon.  From  June,  1853,  to  the  autumn  of  1854, 


52  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

he  was  engaged,  at  Panama,  as  surgeon  to  the  Panama  Rail 
road  Company.  In  December  of  the  year  last  named,  Dr. 
Loving  returned  to  Columbus,  where  his  professional  attain 
ments  at  once  secured  him  a  very  large  practice,  and  a  fore 
most  place  among  the  medical  fraternity  of  Ohio.  After  an 
examination  by  the  State  Medical  Board,  he  was  commissioned 
Surgeon  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  on  the  2d  of  May,  1861,  and 
joined  it  almost  immediately.  In  the  reorganization  of  the 
regiment,  Dr.  Loving  discharged  his  duties  as  medical  in 
spector  of  the  recruits  with  great  fidelity ;  and  to  his  care  in 
the  selection  of  its  materials,  and  the  enforcement  of  hygienic 
regulations  when  it  first  took  the  field,  its  remarkable  health- 
fulness  must,  in  large  measure,  be  attributed. 

Dr.  Fisher  W.  Ames  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  November  21st, 
1821,  and  received  his  education  at  Woodward  High  School. 
In  1842,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  further  pros 
ecuted  in  the  office  of  Dr.-  John  P.  Harrison,  and  finally  grad 
uated  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  of  which  institution  that 
distinguished  practitioner  was  then  president.  After  practic 
ing  for  two  years  in  his  native  city,  he  emigrated  to  Califor 
nia,  in  the  spring  of  1849,  and  remained  there  rather  more 
than  two  years,  during  most  of  which  time  he  was  a  resident 
of  Sacramento  City,  where  he  carried  on  the  drug  business,  in 
connection  with  his  professional  duties.  While  at  Sacramento 
he  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  Masonic  lodge  in  Califor 
nia,  working  under  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Connecticut.  Returning  to  Cincinnati,  in  September,  1851, 
Dr.  Ames  continued  in  active  practice,  with  a  few  unimpor 
tant  interruptions,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  His 
connection  with  the  Sixth  Ohio  dated  from  the  24th  of  April, 
1861. 

Adjutant  Charles  Hetherington  Heron  was  born  in  Edin- 


EEORGANIZATION.  53 

burgh,  Scotland,  June  15th,  1834,  and,  when  in  his  thirteenth 
year,  emigrated  to  America.  In  1851,  after  a  residence  of 
about  four  years  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  he  came  to  Cin 
cinnati,  where  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  hardware  business, 
as  clerk.  Joining  the  company  of  Independent  Guthrie  Greys 
immediately  upon  its  formation,  he  became  one  of  its  most 
active  members,  and  remained  closely  identified  with  the  his 
tory  of  that  corps  for  several  years,  or  until  retired  upon  the 
life  honorary  roll.  His  reelection  as  an  active  member,  in 
April,  1861,  together  with  his  services  in  placing  the  Greys 
upon  a  war  footing,  has  been  adverted  to  in  a  preceding  chap 
ter.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  he 
was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  Company  F,  and  at  its  reor 
ganization  for  the  three-years'  service  was  advanced  to  a  first 
lieutenancy.  This  was  immediately  followed  by  his  appoint 
ment  as  adjutant,  a  position  for  which  he  possessed  peculiar 
qualifications  and  which  he  filled  with  great  acceptability  to 
the  regiment. 

Lieutenant  Edward  M.  Shoemaker,  Regimental  Quartermas 
ter,  was  born  on  the  llth  of  January,  1826,  in  Cumberland 
County,  New  Jersey,  whence  his  parents  removed,  in  1830, 
and  settled  in  Cincinnati.  For  some  time  after  his  graduation 
at  "  Old  Woodward,"  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  living, 
meanwhile,  with  his  parents,  about  two  miles  from  the  city. 
In  1848,  he  married  the  daughter  of  Peter  Usher  (widely 
known  among  the  older  merchants  of  Cincinnati  as  the  pioneer 
in  the  coffee-roasting  and  spice-packing  business  at  the  West), 
and  during  the  following  year  became  a  partner  in  the  firm 
of  Dixon  &  Shoemaker,  Mr.  Usher's  successors.  Disposing 
of  his  interest  in  that  business  in  1852,  he  was  employed  as 
passenger  conductor  on  the  Little  Miami  Railroad  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  war.  At  that  period  he  had  been  an  active 


54  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

member  of  the  Guthrie  Greys  since  1856.  In  connection 
with  Lieutenants  Getty  and  Montagnier,  he  organized  Com 
pany  G,  of  the  three-months'  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  and 
marched  with  it  to  Camp  Harrison  as  captain,  but  almost  im 
mediately  turned  over  the  command  to  Captain  A.  O.  Russell, 
an  old  Guthrie  Grey,  just  arrived  from  the  South,  and,  at 
Colonel  Bosley's  request,  accepted  the  appointment  of  regi 
mental  quartermaster. 


TO   THE   FKONT.  55 


CHAPTER    IV. 
MOVING    TO    THE    FRONT. 

(JUNE  28-JULY  6,  1861.) 

rilHE  much  wished-for  marching  orders  coming  at  last,  they 
-*-  were  read  at  dress  parade,  on  Saturday,  June  29th,  amid 
the  inauspicious  surroundings  of  a  dark  and  lowering  sky,  and 
a  camp  so  strangely  quiet  as  to  seem  almost  deserted.  Three 
days'  rations  being  issued  immediately  afterward,  the  sup 
pressed  din  of  packing  up,  with  the  flare  of  camp  fires,  at 
which  negro  cooks  were  exhausting  the  resources  of  culi 
nary  science,  as  applied  in  boiling  hams  and  the  like  abstruse 
processes,  continued  far  on  into  the  night.  Before  morning 
rain  began  falling,  and  the  Sabbath  dawned  upon  a  cheerless 
scene  of  fog,  and  mud,  and  universal  wet ;  nevertheless,  a  few 
friends  ventured  out  from  Cincinnati  to  take  their  last  fare 
wells  and  see  the  regiment  off.  The  forenoon  wore  tediously 
away ;  for  although  a  train  of  cars  stood  ready  at  the  station, 
it  was  assigned  to  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  (Colonel  William  Sooy 
Smith's  regiment),  which  started  about  eleven  o'clock,  destined 
for  the  Kanawha  region,  by  way  of  Marietta  and  Parkersburg. 
On  the  preceding  evening,  the  remaining  detachment  of  Burd- 
saPs  cavalry  company,  numbering  about  forty  men,  had  gone  for 
ward,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Minor  Milliken,  what  with 
their  horses  and  cumbrous  equipage  quite  filling  a  special  train. 


56  THE  STORY  OF  A   REGIMENT. 

At  1  o'clock  the  welcome  command  "  Fall  in  ! "  passed  along 
the  companies,  and  the  regiment  was  then  escorted  to  the 
depot  by  the  Fifth  Ohio,  a  gallant  command,  which,  although 
the  most  tardy  in  taking  the  field,  returned  at  last  with  such 
a  bead-roll  of  slain  heroes  as,  happily,  no  other  regiment  could 
rival  in  the  original  Cincinnati  Brigade.  There  was  some 
delay  in  embarking,  though  without  confusion,  and,  meantime, 
the  sky  cleared,  permitting  the  sun  to  shine  out  freshly  once 
more.  The  crowd  of  soldiers  and  citizens  collected  at  the  rail 
road  crossing  seemed  far  from  demonstrative  at  first,  yet  when 
the  long  train  moved  slowly  off,  there  was  no  lack  of  hearty 
cheers,  the  waving  of  hats,  and  the  flutter  of  handkerchiefs.  The 
Sixth  was  now  fairly  en  route  for  the  seat  of  war,  supplied  with 
a  number  of  wagons  and  almost  a  full  allowance  of  equipage, 
excepting  tents.  The  regiment,  at  this  date,  had  an  aggregate 
strength  of  1,031  men.* 

The  weather  was  exhilarating,  and  still  more  so  the  occasion, 
all  the  circumstances  of  which  seemed  conspiring  to  make  the 

*  These  figures  have  been  obtained  from  a  laborious  examination  of  the 
final  muster-out  rolls  on  file  at  the  Adjutant-General's  office  at  Columbus. 
Complete  sets  of  the  original  muster-in  rolls  are  not  now  in  existence,  un 
less  it  be  at  Washington.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  even  these 
would  furnish  perfectly  reliable  data,  from  the  fact  that  nearly  every 
company  received  a  greater  or  less  number  of  recruits  after  its  muster  as 
a  body,  in  some  cases  as  much  as  four  days  subsequently;  and  it  would 
evidence  a  degree  of  exactness  rarely  attained  at  that  period  of  the  war, 
if  these  additional  names  should  all  appear  upon  the  original  rolls.  This 
seems  to  be  the  proper  place  for  correcting  two  inaccuracies  that  occur 
in  the  report  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  Ohio,  for  1863,  and  which  have 
been  copied  into  that  for  1865,  namely,  the  statement  that  the  Sixth 
started  for  the  field  on  the  first  of  July,  and  the  graver  error  of  putting 
the  original  strength  of  the  regiment  at  931  men.  Possibly  this  number 
has  reference  to  the  three-months'  term,  but  such  is  not  the  connection. 


TO   THE    FEONT.  57 

trip  a  delightful  one,  at  least  as  far  as  Columbus.  Every-where 
along  the  road  the  appearance  of  the  ponderous  train  was  the 
signal  for  lively  manifestations  of  good-will  and  patriotism.  No 
member  of  the  regiment,  between  whom  and  home  the  lengthen 
ing  miles  were  stretching  further  and  further  every  moment,  but 
will  recollect  the  enthusiasm  and  delight  of  the  sable  populace 
of  Xenia,  and  the  buckets  of  delicious  ice-water  which  accom 
panied  the  welcome  of  the  citizens  of  London.  It  was  just 
dark  when  the  train  clattered  over  the  bridge  spanning  the 
Scioto,  and  entered  Columbus.  Indulging  a  pleasant  fancy, 
which  had  its  origin  in  some  vague  report  before  the  regiment 
was  fairly  out  of  Camp  Dennison,  the  hungry  troops  had  pic 
tured  to  themselves  a  bounteous  supper  here  awaiting  them. 
But,  "  alas,  hope  is  not  prophecy  ! "  Great  was  the  disappoint 
ment,  therefore,  when  it  became  evident,  as  it  speedily  did,  that 
the  regiment  was  wholly  unheralded,  and  provided  for  with 
nothing,  save  redoubled  guards  to  keep  it  on  board  the  cars. 

About  nine  o'clock  the  train  crept  through  the  Columbus 
depot,  and  while  it  rumbled  along  in  the  damp  and  darkness, 
over  the  Central  Ohio  Railroad,  a  thousand  weary  forms, 
knotting  themselves  into  all  sorts  of  unimagined  shapes,  reso 
lutely  strove  to  sleep,  in  spite  of  aches  and  cramps,  and  joltings 
incessant.  Thus  Newark  and  Zanesville.were  passed.  Many 
were  still  soundly  napping  when  the  train  halted  at  Cambridge, 
an  hour  after  daylight,  to  wood  and  water.  Squads  of  un- 
breakfasted  adventurers  at  once  began  exploring  the  vicinity, 
but  finding  no  place  to  enter,  soon  returned  to  the  cars,  with 
a  very  pronounced  opinion  that  the  metropolis  of  Guernsey 
County  was  a  tumble-down,  unenterprising  country  town.  But 
these  unpleasant  impressions  were  wholly  effaced  at  the  next 
stopping-place,  the  village  of  Belmont,  where  the  train  was 
delayed  for  four  hours  while  a  bridge  was  repairing  at  Glen- 


58  THE   STOKY   OF   A   KEGIMENT. 

coe,  nine  miles  east,  that  Lieutenant  Milliken's  cavalry  train 
had  broken  through  the  night  before.  Who  of  the  Sixth, 
that  recalls  the  reminiscences  of  Belmont — synonym  for  hos 
pitality  and  charming,  Union-loving  lassies — can  do  so  with 
out  a  feeling  of  gratitude  and  pride  2  The  loyal  villagers, 
equally  open  with  heart  and  house,  made  it  a  day  of  doom  for 
untold  quantities  of  coffee  and  biscuits,  butter  and  eggs,  spread 
upon  their  hospitable  boards ;  and  while,  with  marvelous  rap 
idity,  these  were  disappearing,  flowers  and  flirtations,  produced 
as  if  by  magic,  became  the  animating  experience  of  hundreds 
of  boys  in  blue.  One  wealthy  citizen  entertained  more  than 
a  hundred  Guthries,  after  which  Sheridan,  (at  that  time  First 
Sergeant  of  Company  F,)  from  the  capacious  verandah,  recited 
"  Sharnus  O'Brien  "  and  other  selections,  to  the  intense  grati 
fication  of  a  large  crowd  assembled  below.  Music  and  singing 
lent  their  aid  to  the  enjoyments  of  the  hour,  but  suddenly 
the  locomotive  whistle  screamed,  and  all  was  ended.  Yet  not 
all,  for  not  only  were  addresses  and  fervent  good-byes  ex 
changed — many  of  them  audibly  ratified  by  other  means  than 
words — but  letters  post-marked  "Belmont"  followed  the  Sixth 
through  all  its  wanderings ;  nor  would  it  be  surprising  if  some 
of  its  members  were  in  receipt  of  the  same  delicate  missives 
to  this  day. 

As  the  train  rounded  the  curve  by  which  Bellair  is  entered, 
the  hills  of  Virginia  came  in  sight,  the  shadows  already  creep 
ing  up  their  sides,  for  it  was  nearly  seven  o'clock.  Disembark 
ing  at  once,  the  companies  in  succession  were  ferried  across 
the  Ohio,  and  many  earnest  congratulations  passed  from  mouth 
to  mouth,  that  at  length  t^he  regiment  stood  upon  the  "sacred 
soil " — the  now  disputed  soil — of  the  Old  Dominion.  At  Bel- 
lair,  Company  B  waited  four  hours  to  exchange  its  old  muskets 
for  an  armament  of  Enfield  rifles,  to  which,  as  being  a  flank- 


TO   THE    FEOXT.  59 

ing  company,  it  was  entitled ;  so  that  it  was  within  an  hour 
of  midnight  when  it  rejoined  its  comrades,  where  they  lay  un 
der  their  stacked  arms,  shivering  but  snoring,  on  the  floor  of 
the  freight  depot  at  Benwood,  on  the  Virginia  shore.  Between 
one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  sleepers  were  roused, 
and  forming  in  line  as  rapidly  as  the  darkness  and  confusion 
would  permit,  the  men  clambered  into  the  freight  cars  backed 
up  to  receive  them.  Fifty-six  thousand  rounds  of  ammunition 
were  next  taken  on  board,  and  soon  every  man  was  busy  in 
manipulating  his  first  supply  of  cartridges.  Though  rumors 
of  guerrillas  were  rife,  no  guards  were  seen  until  reaching 
Cameron,  from  whence,  eastward,  the  Twentieth  Ohio  was  found 
scattered  along  the  railroad,  with  detachments,  nearer  Grafton, 
from  one  or  two  other  commands.  A  short  delay  at  Cameron 
afforded  sufficient  time  for  some  of  the  Sixth  to  become  the 
guests  of  the  little  garrison,  veterans  of  a  five- weeks'  cam 
paign,  whose  adventures  furnished  the  principal  theme  of  dis 
cussion  for  an  hour  afterward.  As  the  day  advanced,  the  sun 
shone  out  with  power,  the  fogs  lifted  from  the  valleys,  and  the 
almost  alpine  character  of  the  scenery — wild,  rugged  hill-sides, 
crowned  with  the  dark  green  verdure  of  pine  and  hemlock, 
with  now  and  then  a  little  glen,  where  a  hamlet  of  frame,  or, 
oftener,  log-built  houses,  clustered  cosily,  and  the  clear  sparkle 
of  a  purling  mountain  stream,  seldom  out  of  sight  for  a  whole 
mile  together — formed  a  panorama  of  Nature,  in  her  robust 
and  untamed  beauty,  such  as  few  members  of  the  regiment 
were  familiar  with.  In  spite  of  gnawing  hunger  and  extreme 
weariness,  it  was  impossible  not  to  admire  and  enjoy  it. 

A  mile  and  a  half  before  reaching  Grafton,  the  eastward- 
bound  traveler  over  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  passes 
through  a  dingy,  scattering  hill-side  village  on  the  banks  of 
the  beautiful  little  stream  whose  windings  he  has  been  follow- 


60  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ing  for  many  miles,  and  which  is  here  spanned  by  a  substan 
tial  covered  bridge.  This  is  the  Tygart's  Valley  River,  and 
the  village  rising  above  it  is  Fetterman,  Taylor  County,  West 
Virginia.  Thus  far  in  its  journeyings  toward  the  goal  of 
every  true  soldier's  aspiration,  the  front,  the  Sixth  Ohio  came, 
about  one  o'clock  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  July  2d.  The  trains 
halted  and  the  regiment  disembarked,  to  take  up  its  quarters 
in  the  deserted  houses  that  stood  open  and  tenantless  all 
around.  Two-thirds  of  the  men  had  gone  without  breakfast, 
and  many  had  tasted  nothing  since  leaving  Belmont.  The 
quartermaster's  car  was  at  once  besieged  by  company  commis 
saries,  with  their  clamorous  squads,  come  for  their  stores  and 
cooking  utensils,  and  by  four  o'clock  the  tardiest  mess  upon 
the  ground  was  rejoicing  over  a  hearty  meal.  Tattoo  sounded 
early,  and  the  weary  troops  gladly  turned  in  for  the  night. 

The  next  day  was  one  of  drill  and  general  activity,  with  no 
end  of  rumors.  Details  for  picket  duty  and  for  guard  over 
prisoners  at  Grafton  were  sent  away  soon  after  sunrise.  Can 
teens  were  distributed,  and,  for  the  first  time,  the  companies 
practiced  in  actual  firing.  Letters  were  written  home  by  the 
hundred,  and  at  night,  a  day's  rations  were  issued,  preparatory 
to  marching  at  daylight.  Home,  the  Fourth,  Philippi,  and 
the  promised  fight  on  the  morrow — such  was  the  strange  jum 
ble  of  ideas  with  wThich  the  men  lay  down  to  rest,  and  which 
Fancy  wove  into  dreams  scarcely  more  novel  and  strange  than 
their  waking  experiences.  A  heavy  fog  obscuring  the  morn 
ing,  as  usual,  the  Fourth  dawned  gloomily,  but  when  the  sun 
climbed  above  the  hills  behind  the  village,  the  mists  began  to 
clear  up,  and  it  was  a  beautifully  fresh  summer  morning  when,  at 
seven  o'clock,  the  regiment  embarked  on  a  long  train  of  freight 
cars,  and  started  for  Grafton.  At  the  latter  place  the  train  made 
a  short  stop,  and  then,  creaking  cautiously  over  the  splendid 


TO   THE   FRONT.  61 

iron  bridge  across  the  Tygart  Valley  River,  moved  out  on  the 
North-western  Virginia  Railroad,  four  miles  upon  which 
brought  it  to  Webster,  where  the  regiment  left  the  cars  and 
swung  out  upon  its  first  march. 

From  what  motives  is  hardly  apparent,  but  it  is  certainly 
true  that  the  situation  at  the  front  had  been  greatly  misrep 
resented  ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  the  wildest  notions  of  the 
raw  troops  found  some  sort  of  corroboration  in  the  reports 
brought  back  from  Philippi.  The  column,  disposed  as  if  an 
ambuscade  were  expected  at  every  turn,  pushed  rapidly  for 
ward.  The  men  were  encumbere^  with  heavy  knapsacks, 
sufficiently  betraying  their  inexperience  in  marching;  but  al 
though  the  day  was  excessively  hot,  and  the  road  covered  with 
dust,  only  three  short  halts  were  called  throughout  the  march 
of  fourteen  miles.  Just  at  twelve  o'clock  the  roar  of  artillery 
broke  out  in  the  direction  of  Philippi,  still  four  miles  distant, 
and  a  cavalryman,  who  was  met  soon  afterward,  declared  that 
fighting  had  begun,  and  reinforcements  were  urgently  need 
ed  ;  upon  receiving  which  assurance,  the  troops  were  pushed 
forward  at  a  merciless  pace.  In  vain  they  emptied  their 
knapsacks  of  every  superfluous  article,  strewing  the  road 
side  with  gray  jackets,  extra  clothing,  etc.  Overcome  by 
heat  and  fatigue,  hundreds  fell  out  by  the  road-side,  until  at 
length  the  column  was  completely  disorganized.  Reaching  the 
infantry  outposts  a  mile  from  Philippi,  Colonel  Bosley  learned 
that  the  firing  was  simply  a  national  salute  in  honor  of  the 
day,  there  having  been  no  unusual  demonstrations  at  the  front 
of  any  kind;  notwithstanding  which  it  was  deemed  best  to 
push  on  to  the  end  of  the  journey.  Welcome,  indeed,  were 
the  first  glimpses  of  the  white  tents  composing  the  camp  of 
the  Indiana  troops,  past  which  what  remained  of  the  regiment 
was  soon  straggling,  and,  descending  the  hill  just  beyond, 


62  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

crossed  the  Tygart's  Valley  River  by  the  covered  bridge,  and 
entered  Philippi.  As  at  Fetterman,  there  was  no  lack  of 
abandoned  dwellings,  and  of  these  the  foot-sore  trampers  took 
possession  without  ceremony.  The  stragglers  had  all  reported 
before  retreat. 

Rations  ran  out  at  supper  time,  and  as  some  of  the  com 
pany  wagons  failed  to  come  up  that  night,  or  even  the  next 
day,  there  was  real  destitution.  Happily,  among  the  regiments 
encamped  at  Philippi  was  the  Sixth  Indiana,  the  members  of 
which  had  not  forgotten  their  entertainment  by  the  Guthrie 
Greys  at  Camp  Dennison,  as  their  generosity  in  this  hour  of 
need  abundantly  proved ;  besides  which  and  the  sutler's  shop 
there  was  another  and  more  mysterious  source  of  supply. 
Plentiful  in  number  were  the  guards  and  vigilant  the  patrols 
on  Friday,  the  5th ;  yet  potatoes,  corn-meal,  and  the  like  sub 
stantial  products  of  the  land  were  not  wanting  at  the  dinner 
of  many  Guthrie  messes. 

Resting  in  its  comfortable  though  widely  separated  quar 
ters,  the  Sixth  Ohio  lay  two  entire  days  at  Philippi,  which 
was  now  the  front.  The  air  was  full  of  rumors ;  scouts  and 
spies  were  continually  coming  in,  and  after  reporting  at  head 
quarters  were  hardly  allowed  time  to  rest  before  being  ordered 
away  upon  another  expedition.  A  heavy  picket  was  kept  out 
in  every  direction,  especially  upon  all  the  approaches  from 
Laurel  Hill,  only  fourteen  miles  away,  where  lay  the  main 
body  of  the  enemy ;  and  on  all  sides  appeared  indications  that 
lively  work  was  close  at  hand.  Movements  were,  indeed,  on 
foot,  which,  within  ten  days,  were  to  result  in  the  utter  rout 
of  the  rebel  army,  and,  by  that  means  effecting  the  deliverance 
of  Western  Virginia  from  the  reign  of  terror  threatened  by 
both  the  Confederate  and  the  old  State  Governments,  were  to 


TO   THE   FRONT.  63 

secure  the  permanent  ascendancy  of  the  Union  cause  through 
out  this  mountain  region. 

Soon  after  the  passage  of  the  State  ordinance  of  secession, 
Governor  Letcher  appointed  Robert  E.  Lee  to  the  command 
of  all  the  Virginia  forces,  with  the  rank  of  Major-General,  in 
reward  for  the  treason  which  had  led  that  officer  to  resign  a 
colonelcy  in  the  United  States  cavalry  service,  a  short  time 
before;  but  the  direction  of  military  operations,  in  all  that  por 
tion  of  the  State  lying  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  being  at  once 
assumed  by  the  Confederate  Government,  to  General  Lee  was 
left  but  little  more  than  the  defense  of  the  highland  regions 
of  Western  Virginia.  On  the  3d  of  May,  a  date  coincident 
with  President  Lincoln's  first  call  for  three-years'  troops,  Gov 
ernor  Letcher  issued  a  proclamation  calling  out  the  militia  in 
such  numbers  as  "  the  commanding  general  of  the  military 
forces  of  the  State"  might  deem  the  public  exigencies,  from 
time  to  time,  to  require ;  and,  in  pursuance  of  the  policy  thus 
foreshadowed,  General  Lee  soon  afterward  sent  Colonel  Porter- 
field  to  Western  Virginia,  with  written  instructions  to  call  for 
volunteers  and  receive  them  to  the  number  of  five  thousand, 
with  which  force  he  was  to  hold  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  and  to  overawe  the  predominant  Union  senti 
ment  in  that  section  of  the  State.  Colonel  Porterfield  estab 
lished  himself  at  Grafton,  and  immediately  began  operations. 
But  two-thirds  of  the  militia  remained  true  to  the  old  flag,  and 
he  had  succeeded  in  getting  together  less  than  a  thousand  men, 
all  told,  when,  at  the  end  of  May,  Colonel  Kelley's  advance 
from  Wheeling  compelled  him  to  relinquish  his  hold  upon  the 
railroad  and  retire  to  Philippi;  at  which  place,  being  sur 
prised  and  completely  routed  on  the  morning  of  June  3d,  he 


64  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

gathered  up  what  he  could  of  his  scattered  forces  and  retreated, 
first  to  Beverly  and  then  to  Huttonsville. 

The  ill-starred  Porterfield  was  replaced  by  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Robert  S.  Garnett,  recently  an  officer  of  fine  standing  in 
the  United  States  army,  who  brought  with  him  the  consider 
able  reinforcement  of  six  thousand  men.  The  new  commander 
at  once  chose  a  strong  position  at  Laurel  Hill,  and  vigorously 
began  the  work  of  fortifying  it.  In  this  task  he  was  still  en 
gaged  when  the  Sixth  Ohio  reached  the  front. 

Meanwhile,  the  Union  generals  were  not  idle.  McClellan 
took  command,  in  person,  on  the  20th  of  June,  and  at  the  end 
of  two  weeks  found  himself  at  the  head  of  nearly  twenty- 
five  thousand  men,  with  several  additional  regiments  within 
call,  at  the  camps  of  rendezvous  in  Ohio  and  Indiana.  The 
force  available  for  offensive  operations,  however,  very  little,  if 
at  all,  exceeded  one-half  that  number ;  for  not  only  were  large 
detachments  required  for  the  protection  of  long  lines  of  com 
munication,  and  for  outlying  posts,  but  the  brigade  which 
General  Cox  was  moving  up  the  Kanawha  Valley  was  so  re 
motely  cooperative  that,  for  all  practical  purposes,  it  was  to  be 
regarded  as  an  independent  column.  Corresponding,  though 
less  numerous,  deductions  reduced  the  rebel  strength  to  cer 
tainly  less  than  ten  thousand  effectives  ;*  but,  as  usual  it  was 
greatly  magnified  by  reports  current  in  the  Union  army ;  and 
while  conscription  was  daily  swelling  his  ranks,  Garnett  had 
the  signal  advantages  of  choice  of  position  and  of  maintaining 
a  contest  purely  defensive.  General  McClellan  could  not  fail 
to  perceive  the  blunder  that  his  antagonist  had  made  in  ad- 

*  Pollard  asserts  that  it  was  less  than  5,000  infantry,  with  ten  pieces 
of  artillery  and  four  companies  of  cavalry.  McClellan,  in  his  dispatch  to 
Colonel  Townsend,  from  Beverly,  July  12th,  says :  "  The  provision  returns 
here  show  Garnett' s  force  to  have  been  10,000  men." 


,,  -<     , 
it 

^V v       V       /.^      \Lv- '""  6^    ^^    / 

A 


Prepared  for 
Ilie  Story  of  a  Reyiinwl . 
Byffi^  icholwii,  (i'til.  fiu/r. 


TO    THE    FRONT.  65 

vancing  to  Laurel  Hill,  which,  although  itself  a  strong  posi 
tion,  easily  admitted  of  being  flanked,  and  shaped  his  plans 
accordingly. 

The  Laurel  Hill  range,  an  offshoot  of  the  Alleghanies,  and 
one  of  the  spurs  which  give  to  this  part  of  West  Virginia  its 
extremely  broken  character,  is  crossed  at  some  distance  south 
eastward  from  Philippi  by  the  main  turnpike  leading  from 
Wheeling  to  Staunton,  a  highway  which  was  long  the  prin 
cipal  line  of  communication  between  the  region  east  of  the 
mountains  and  that  whose  water-shed  is  toward  the  Ohio 
River.  It  was  for  the  purpose  of  barring  this  important  ave 
nue  against  any  hostile  body  moving  directly  down  it  from 
the  direction  of  Grafton,  that  Garnett  had  planted  his  army 
upon  it  at  the  base  of  the  eastern  slope  of  Laurel  Hill,  and  he 
indulged  in  no  extravagant  confidence  if,  in  this  fastness,  he 
felt  perfectly  secure  against  any  assault  directly  upon  his  front. 
But  elsewhere,  upon  his  left  flank,  he  had  left  a  vulnerable 
point  almost  unguarded,  as,  indeed,  it  was  not  easy  to  avoid 
doing,  without  dangerously  weakening  his  command  by  too 
great  distribution.  Several  miles  south  of  his  position  at  that 
time,  Rich  Mountain,  which  is  a  continuation  of  the  same 
general  range  as  that  upon  which  the  main  rebel  army  was 
posted,  affords  passage  to  the  turnpike  leading  eastwardly  from 
Weston  and  Bnckhannon  to  Beverly.  This  last  place  is  sit 
uated  at  the  junction  of  the  two  roads  just  named  (the  one 
from  Rich  Mountain,  and  the  other  from  Laurel  Hill),  which 
here  approach  each  other  at  a  sharp  angle,  and  by  the  winding 
turnpike  is  about  five  miles  from  the  crest  of  Rich  Mountain  ; 
from  the  rebel  camp  at  Laurel  Hill  it  was  about  sixteen. 
Garnett's  line  both  of  communication  and  retreat  thus  lying 
directly  through  Beverly,  toward  Huttonsville  and  beyond,  in 

the  direction  of  Staunton,  General  McClellan  resolved  to  seize 
5 


66  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

upon  it,  after  having  blockaded  the  other  known  avenues  of 
escape,  with  the  expectation  of  compelling  him  either  to  fight 
on  more  equal  ground,  in  which  alternative  he  must  certainly 
be  overpowered,  or  to  surrender  at  discretion. 

Two  cooperative  columns  were  accordingly  organized,  the 
heavier  one  at  Clarksburg,  under  the  personal  direction  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  and  the  other  under  General  Morris,  at 
Philippi.  With  the  former,  in  which  were  the  Third,  Ninth 
and  Tenth  Ohio — old  friends  of  the  Sixth — McClellan  ad 
vanced  to  Buckhannon  on  the  2d  of  July,  and  there  remained 
until  the  8th.  The  plan  of  campaign  contemplated  a  suf 
ficiently  rapid  movement  of  this  force  to  the  rear  of  Laurel 
Hill  to  cut  off  the  enemy's  retreat,  during  the  time  that  the 
smaller  column,  by  demonstrating  heavily  upon  Garnett's  im 
mediate  front,  should  have  been  misleading  him  into  the  be 
lief  that  the  main  attack  was  to  be  expected  from  that  quarter. 
The  latter  was  the  task  assigned  to  the  brigade  at  Philippi, 
consisting,  on  the  6th  of  July,  of  the  following  troops,  besides 
the  Sixth  Ohio :  Sixth  Indiana,  Colonel  Thomas  T.  Crittenden ; 
Seventh  Indiana,  Colonel  Ebenezer  Dnmont ;  Ninth  Indiana, 
Colonel  Robert  H.  Milroy;  Fourteenth  Ohio,  Colonel  James 
B.  Steedman ;  detachments  from  Colonel  Dickey's  Fifteenth, 
and  Colonel  Irvine's  Sixteenth  Ohio,  and  also  from  the  Second 
Virginia;  and  Colonel  James  Barnett's  battery,  nominally 
a  regiment,  from  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  only  three-years' 
organization  in  the  entire  body  was  the  Sixth  Ohio,  which 
General  McClellan  had  ordered  to  reenforce  General  Morris, 
upon  that  officer's  request  for  more  troops,  with  some  reluc 
tance,  having  originally  designed  it  for  operations  elsewhere. 

Brigadier-General  Thomas  A.  Morris  was  born  in  Nicholas 
County,  Kentucky,  December  26th,  1811,  the  third  son  in  the 


TO   THE   FRONT.  67 

family  of  Morris  and  Eachel  Morris.  In  the  fall  of  1821,  his 
father,  unwilling  to  rear  his  family  amid  the  baneful  influ 
ences  of  slavery,  removed  to  Indianapolis,  where,  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  young  Morris  was  placed  in  the  office  of  the 
Western  Censor  and  Emigrant's  Guide,  the  first  newspaper 
established  in  that  city,  and  the  original  of  the  present  State 
Journal  After  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  to  "  the  art 
preservative,"  he  returned  to  school,  and  in  June,  1830,  en 
tered  the  military  academy  at  West  Point,  graduating,  four 
years  later,  fourth  in  his  class ;  soon  after  which  he  was  as 
signed  to  the  First  Artillery,  with  the  customary  brevet  of 
second  lieutenant,  and,  for  a  short  time,  was  stationed  at  Fort 
ress  Monroe.  The  winter  of  1834-5  he  spent  with  his  com 
pany,  at  Fort  King,  Florida ;  in  the  spring  succeeding  which, 
he  was  detailed  by  the  War  Department  on  engineering  duty, 
and  ordered  to  the  assistance  of  Captain  Ogden,  on  the  Cum 
berland  Road,  in  Indiana.  After  discharging  this  duty  for 
some  time,  he  left  the  army  to  accept  the  position  of  Resident 
Engineer  in  the  service  of  his  adopted  State,  and  in  this  ca 
pacity  superintended  the  construction  of  the  Central  Canal 
and  a  portion  of  the  Madison  and  Indianapolis  Railroad.  The 
whole  distance  upon  the  latter,  from  Yernon  to  Indianapolis, 
remaining  unfinished  when  the  State  abandoned  her  plans  for 
internal  improvement,  it  was  completed  by  a  company  which 
he  was  actively  instrumental  in  forming,  under  his  direction  as 
chief  engineer.  He  held  the  same  responsible  office  in  the  lo 
cation  and  construction  of  three  other  important  roads  in  suc 
cession,  viz.,  the  Terre  Haute  and  Indianapolis,  the  Bellefon- 
taine,  and  the  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  Railroads,  and,  upon 
the  opening  of  the  latter,  became  its  president  and  superintend 
ent,  the  arduous  duties  of  which  positions  he  discharged  with 
great  acceptance  for  several  years,  or  until  compelled  to  resign 


68  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

by  the  requirements  of  private  business.  Being  among  the  first 
to  tender  his  services  upon  the  President's  call  for  troops,  he 
received  from  Governor  Morton  the  appointment  of  quarter 
master-general  of  Indfana,  and,  as  soon  as  the  first  five  regi 
ments  had  been  mustered  at  Indianapolis,  was  intrusted  with 
their  command,  with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  in  the  State 
service.  A  few  days  later  his  brigade  was  ordered  to  Western 
Virginia,  most  of  it  reporting  at  Grafton,  where  his  command 
was  increased  by  the  addition  of  the  Fourteenth  and  Sixteenth 
Ohio.  The  columns  which  effected  the  surprise  of  Philippi  on 
the  morning  of  the  3d  of  June,  were  organized  from  his  forces, 
all  of  whom  were  soon  afterward  moved  forward  to  that  place. 
But  Philippi,  in  turn,  was  now  to  become  a  post  in  the  rear. 


LAUREL   HILL.  69 


CHAPTER    V. 

LAUREL   HILL. 

(JULY  7-13,  1861.) 

BETWEEN  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  on  the  night  of 
July  6th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  quietly  roused,  and  ordered 
to  hasten  preparations  for  a  forced  march.  It  was  a  moonless 
night,  and  even  the  twinkling  of  the  stars  was  hidden  by  the 
usual  chilly  fog.  Most  of  the  men  were  still  sipping  and  cool 
ing  their  cups  of  coffee,  when,  amid  the  darkness,  came  the 
tramp  of  regiments  from  the  main  camp  on  the  hill-side  be 
yond  the  river,  wending  their  way  through  the  streets  of  Phi- 
lippi.  They  swung  out  rapidly  on  the  ^Beverly  turnpike,  toward 
Laurel  Hill,  moving  in  silence  unbroken  save  by  their  own 
footfalls,  and  at  intervals  by  the  low  tones  of  command.  The 
Sixth  Ohio  fell  in  at  once,  and,  after  tedious  waiting,  finally 
started,  at  two  o'clock  of  what  was  now  Sunday  morning.  The 
Sixth,  Seventh,  and  Ninth  Indiana,  the  Fourteenth  Ohio,  and 
Barnett's  battery  were  in  advance,  with  three  companies  from 
the  Fifteenth  Ohio,  three  from  the  Sixteenth  Ohio,  and  one 
company  from  the  Second  Virginia  somewhere  in  the  column, 
and  a  train  of  wagons  following  close  in  the  rear.  The  expe 
dition  was  under  the  personal  command  of  General  Morris, 
Captain  Henry  W.  Benham  (then  serving  upon  his  staff, 
although  Chief  Engineer  of  the  department),  directing  the 


70  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

movements  of  the  advance.      McClellan  was  still  at  Buck- 
liannon. 

Day  had  broken  over  the  distant  mountain  tops  to  the  east 
ward,  when  the  regiment  halted,  after  a  steady  tramp  of  six 
miles,  not  quite  half-way  to  Laurel  Hill.  The  remainder  of  the 
march  was  made  more  slowly,  for  the  country  abounded  in  the 
choicest  sites  for  ambuscades,  and,  besides  this,  the  artillery 
teams  began  to  flag,  proving  too  light  for  the  hilly  roads.  At 
8  A.  M.,  near  the  junction  of  the  narrow  road  leading  off  on 
the  left  toward  Morgantown,  and  half  a  mile  from  the  hamlet 
of  Bcalington,  the  skirmishers  came  upon  the  rebel  outposts, 
and  drove  them  in,  which  was  quickly  followed  by  the  seizure 
of  the  commanding  positions  just  beyond — within  two  miles 
of  the  enemy's  main  fortifications  by  the  sinuosities  of  the 
turnpike,  and  in  a  direct  line  considerably  nearer.  The  sum 
mit  of  the  Wheat  Hill  rising  upon  the  left — so  called  because 
its  slopes  were  green  and  waving  with  a  growth  of  wheat — 
was  quickly  occupied  by  the  Sixth  Indiana,  while  the  Seventh 
and  Ninth  Indiana  took  position  somewhat  kwer,  upon  a 
plateau  that  commanded  Bealington,  supporting  a  section  of 
Barnett's  battery ;  in  front  of  which  a  redoubt  was  hastily 
thrown  up,  as  a  part  of  the  dispositions  made  to  hold  the 
ground  at  all  hazards.  Facing  this  elevation,  upon  the  right 
of  the  turnpike,  and  sloping  down  toward  it,  is  another  hill  of 
semicircular  outline,  upon  which  the  Fourteenth  Ohio  was 
posted.  General  Morris  established  his  head-quarters  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Elliott,  at  the  intersection  of  the  Morgantown 
road,  the  approaches  by  which  were  guarded  by  the  Sixteenth 
Ohio  detachment,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fulton,  with  one 
piece  of  artillery ;  while  immediately  in  the  rear  of  head-quar 
ters  were  the  three  companies  of  the  Fifteenth  Ohio,  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dickey.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was 


LAUREL   HILL.  71 

designated  as  the  reserve,  and  about  nine  o'clock,  filed  off  to 
the  right,  into  a  meadow  lying  between  the  turnpike  and  the 
Tygart's  Valley  River.  Long-roll  had  been  heard  from  the 
direction  of  the  rebel  camp,  ensconced  behind  hills  and  thick 
woods,  and,  while  the  skirmish  lines  were  keeping  up  a  rattling 
fire,  the  regiment  stacked  arms,  imslung  knapsacks,  and  pre 
pared  for  action ;  but,  after  waiting  an  hour  in  the  hot  sun, 
during  which  time  a  score  of  exciting  rumors  ran  the  length 
of  the  lines,  the  men  were  dismissed  to  rest  until  evening, 
when  a  strong  picket  was  thrown  out,  the  Sixth  Ohio  fur 
nishing  the  heavy  detail  of  five  companies.  The  night  was 
cloudless  and  starlighted,  with  less  fog  than  usual.  Between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock  the  sharp  report  of  a  rifle  was  heard  from 
the  outposts,  followed  by  another  and  another,  until,  within  'a 
few  moments,  the  signal  had  been  carried  along  the  whole 
northern  and  western  picket  line.  Springing  from  their  blan 
kets,  the  men  hurriedly  began  forming  in  line,  but  the  pickets 
did  not  come  in,  and,  all  growing  quiet  again,  they  lay  down 
to  sleep  behind  their  gun-stacks,  and  were  only  once  more  ' 
disturbed  duripg  the  night. 

While  for  four  days  longer  General  Morris  confronted  the 
rebels,  impatiently  awaiting  the  result  of  McClellan's  coopera 
tive  movement,  he  found  it  extremely  difficult  to  control  the 
untrained  eagerness  of  his  troops.  During  this  period,  which 
was  one  of  constant  activity  and  vigilance,  the  skirmishing  at 
the  front  sometimes  swelled  almost  to  the  proportions  of  a 
battle ;  amid  all  which,  however,  the  reserve  was  held  in  irk 
some  waiting.  Monday  morning  brought  a  mail,  the  first 
welcome  words  from  home  that  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  received 
since  leaving  Camp  Dennison,  and  tents  being  distributed  in 
the  afternoon,  they  were  pitched  just  before  a  heavy  thunder- 
shower  reached  the  camp.  The  rest  of  the  baggage  was  not  • 


72  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMEXT. 

brought  up  until  Thursday.  Two  or  three  false  alarms  oc 
curred  during  the  day,  and  about  sundown  a  miniature  buttle 
was  really  fought,  though  hidden  entirely  from  the  sight  of 
the  expectant  reserves,  by  the  Wheat  Hill.  On  Tuesday,  the 
9th,  a  wet  and  disagreeable  day,  the  rebels  attempted  an  of 
fensive  demonstration,  but  with  so  little  spirit  that  the  Four 
teenth  Ohio  and  Ninth  Indiana  easily  beat  them  off,  and 
pursued  them  beyond  their  first  line  of  rifle-pits.  Wednesday 
was  more  quiet,  the  rebels  permitting  the  Indiana  skirmishers 
to  hold  undisputed  possession  of  the  woods  in  front  of  the 
Wheat  Hill.  During  another  rain-storm  in  the  afternoon, 
Colonel  Steedman  succeeded  in  lodging  his  regiment  upon  a 
commanding  hill  considerably  nearer  the  enemy,  but,  before 
night-fall,  had  such  a  fight  to  hold  it  that  the  entire  brigade 
was  put  under  arms  for  a  short  time.  Thursday,  the  llth,  was 
a  gloomy  day  throughout,  with  more  rain.  The  rebels  were 
strangely  silent,  for  General  Garnett  knew  what  the  Union 
commander  could  only  surmise,  namely,  that  the  issue  of  the 
campaign  was  even  then  being  decided  at  Rich  Mountain. 

Unknown  to  General  McClellan,  a  picked  body  of  men  from 
the  Third  Ohio,  in  Schleich's  brigade,  on  the  5th  of  July,  had 
been  pushed  forward  from  Buckhannon,  on  a  reconnoissance, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  O.  A.  Lawson.  At  Middle 
Fork  Bridge,  between  Buckhannon  and  Rich  Mountain,  this 
party,  on  the  next  day,  encountered  the  rebel  pickets  in  strong 
force,  and,  after  a  sharp  fight,  were  obliged  to  retire,  leaving 
upon  the  field  the  dead  body  of  Corporal  Samuel  W.  Johns,  a 
brave  and  most  patriotic  young  man  from  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Fearing  that  this  ill-advised  expedition  might  have  led  the 
enemy  to  divine  his  purposes,  McClellan  broke  camp  on  Mon 
day,  the  8th,  and  moved  forward  to  Roaring  Run,  where,  on 


LAUREL   HILL.  73 

the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  he  drove  the  rebels  into  their  in- 
trenchments  at  the  foot  of  Rich  Mountain,  and  went  into 
bivouac  for  the  night.  The  whole  of  Wednesday,  the  10th, 
was  spent  in  cautiously  feeling  the  enemy  in  his  front — in 
reality,  a  force  of  not  exceeding  two  thousand  men,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pegram,  of  the  Twentieth 
Virginia.  At  length  a  fortuitous  circumstance  disclosed  to 
the  alert  Rosecrans  the  best  method  of  attack,  the  plan  being 
simply  to  pass  around  the  enemy's  left  flank  and  strike  him 
in  the  rear.  Taking  a  pathless  route  through  the  woods, 
which  were  dripping  with  a  cold  rain,  Rosecrans7  brigade,  at 
daylight  on  the  llth,  filed  off  to  the  right,  under  the  guid 
ance  of  Mr.  David  L.  Hart,  a  young  loyalist,  whose  father's 
farm  was  situated  upon  the  summit,  within  the  rebel  lines; 
and,  although  it  failed  of  effecting  a  surprise,  owing  to  the 
capture  of  an  orderly  whom  McClellan  had  sent  after  Rose 
crans  with  written  instructions,  the  movement  proved  a  com 
plete  success.  The  afternoon  was  rapidly  waning,  Vhen,  after 
a  wet  and  exhausting  march,  the  column  approached  the  turn 
pike,  near  the  Hart  homestead  on  the  crest  of  Rich  Mountain, 
and  found  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  there  awaiting  it.  A 
short  but  spirited  engagement  ensued,  resulting  in  the  rout  of 
the  rebels  and  their  retreat  in  confusion  toward  the  main 
body,  leaving  Rosecrans  in  possession  of  the  key-point  of  the 
entire  position,  with  an  unobstructed  road  to  Beverly.  The 
only  course  that  now  remained  for  Pegram  was  a  speedy  flight, 
which,  however,  was  not  an  easy  undertaking,  since  a  whole 
brigade  lay  directly  across  his  only  line  of  retreat  that  was 
at  all  practicable  for  horses  and  artillery.  Under  cover  of 
night,  he  abandoned  his  camp  and  equipage,  and  struck  off 
across  the  mountains,  with  the  intention  of  rejoining  his  com- 
mander-in-chief  at  Laurel  Hill.  But  Garnett,  apprised  of  the 


74  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

disaster  which  had  befallen  his  lieutenant,  or  perhaps  antici 
pating  it,  was  already  preparing  to  evacuate  that  position 
with  the  utmost  haste,  his  purpose  being  to  fall  back  rapidly 
upon  Beverly,  gather  in  his  reserves  which  were  there  sta 
tioned,  and,  uniting  with  Pegram's  forces  from  Rich  Mount 
ain,  to  retire  through  Huttonsville  to  the  Cheat  Mountain 
passes  beyond,  where  he  would  again  stand  at  bay,  under  cir 
cumstances  more  favorable  for  defensive  operations.  In  this 
plan  every  thing  depended  upon  such  celerity  of  movement  as 
would  pass  his  forces  through  Beverly,  sixteen  miles -distant, 
before  it  should  be  occupied  by  the  Union  troops,  now  almost 
in  sight  of  it,  upon  Rich  Mountain. 

Throughout  that  wet  and  dreary  night,  of  almost  Egyptian 
darkness,  the  Indiana  pickets  in  front  of  the  Wheat  Hill  could 
distinctly  hear  the  sound  of  trains  in  motion,  the  swearing  of 
teamsters,  and  the  shouts  of  excited  voices,  in  the  direction  of 
the  rebel  camp,  though  no  one  knew  whether  it  indicated  re- 
enforcements  and  preparations  for  an  attack,  or  a  precipitate 
evacuation. 

At  daylight,  when  the  night  scouts  hastened  to  report  at 
head-quarters,  as  usual,  their  statements  were  found  to  be  ut 
terly  contradictory,  and  many  of  the  officers  suspected  a  feint 
or  ambuscade.  Before  the  middle  of  the  forenoon,  however, 
all  doubts  were  dispelled.  Garnett  was  in  full  flight ;  and  soon 
after  this  discovery,  a  courier  arrived  from  McClellan  with  the 
news  of  Rosecrans'  success  at  Rich  Mountain.  The  Ninth 
Indiana  and  other  regiments  being  ordered  forward  to  occupy 
the  deserted  intrenchments,  by  noon  the  rebel  camp  swarmed 
with  curious  soldiers,  prying  into  every  nook  and  corner,  col 
lecting  relics,  and  confiscating  to  their  own  use  all  sorts  of 
portable  spoil.  "  It  was  a  scene  of  indescribable  confusion  ;  a 
miscellany  of  tents  thrown  down  and  torn  in  pieces;  tent  poles. 


LAUREL   HILL.  75 

Borne  half  burned ;  camp-kettles,  mess-pans,  plates,  spoons, 
knives  and  forks,  and  all  the  utensils  common  to  camps ;  camp- 
stools,  cots,  and  blankets;  champagne  baskets  and  bottles, 
flasks,  decanters,  flagons ;  hospital  stores,  bandages,  lint,  litters, 
and  stretchers;  seedy  boots  and  shoes,  old  clothes,  stockings; 
and  an  endless  litter  of  papers,  letters,  boxes,  barrels,  etc. 
Many  valuable  camp  equipages  had  been  tied  up,  but  they 
could  not  load  them,  or  else  they  had  no  time.  Fifty  barrels 
of  flour,  as  many  of  hard  biscuit,  and  a  quantity  of  corn  in  the 
ear  were  found  in  one  place;  in  another,  whole  bundles  of 
stockings,  pants,  coats,  and  blankets,  which  they  had  not  leisure 
to  destroy;  and  in  a  pasture  close  by  were  seventy-five  or  a 
hundred  sheep  which  they  had  impressed."*  Sharing  fully  in 
the  general  elation,  the  Sixth  Ohio  lay  restlessly  awaiting  or 
ders  ;  at  length,  near  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  right 
wing  was  sent  for,  and  somewhat  later  the  left  wing,  Company 
K,  however,  remaining  behind  as  camp  guard.  As  it  sank 
behind  dark  thunder  clouds  slowly  rising  in  the  west,  the  sun 
was  hardly  more  than  an  hour  high  when  the  regiment  re 
formed  within  the  rebel  breastworks  for  a  night  march.  Hap 
pily  Garnett  had  not  been  allowed  so  long  a  start  as  this,  the 
Fourteenth  Ohio,  the  Seventh  and  Ninth  Indiana,  and  a  sec 
tion  of  Barnett's  battery  having  gone  forward  several  hours 
before,  under  command  of  Captain  Benham. 

Leaving  Lieutenant-Colonel  Este,  of  the  Fourteenth  Ohio, 
with  about  seven  hundred  men,  in  charge  of  the  various  camps, 
General  Morris  followed  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  consti 
tuting  the  reserve,  as  it  is  designated  in  official  reports,  and 
comprising  the  Sixth  Ohio,  Sixth  Indiana,  the  three  companies 
of  the  Sixteenth  Ohio,  another  section  of  artillery,  and  the 

*  Correspondence  Cincinnati  Commercial  signed  "  P." 


76  THE   STORY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

general's  body-guard.     As  the  night  was  fast  closing  around, 
and  time  was  precious,  this  force  moved  rapidly,  finding  the 
road  strewn  for  miles  with  playing  cards,  and  articles  of  cloth 
ing  and  equipage  which  the  enemy  had  thrown  aside  in  his 
hurried  retreat.     About  dark  the  threatened  rain  began;  the 
men  were  soon  wet  through,  and  the  road,  which  from  the 
outset  had  been  rough  and  broken,  became  ankle-deep  in  slip 
pery  mud.     Couriers  were  met  returning  to  Laurel   Hill  on 
various  errands,  all  of  them  laden  with  the  same  animating 
tidings  from  the  advance,  to  the  effect  that  Benham  had  gained 
several  hours  upon  the  enemy,  and  McClellan  had  already  been 
communicated  with  at  Beverly.     Garnett's  plans,  in  truth,  had 
totally  miscarried.     His  reserve  had  fled  toward  Huttonsville 
without   the   show  of  effort  to  detain   Rosecrans'   victorious 
column  descending  from   Rich   Mountain.     He  had   ordered 
trees  felled  across  the  road  leading  out  in  the  latter  direction, 
but  instead  of  doing  this,  some  inconceivably  stupid  subordi 
nate  had  blockaded  the  turnpike  between  Beverly  and  Laurel 
Hill,  and  he  had  thus  been  forced,  after  pushing  the  head  of 
his  column  to  within  three  miles  of  Beverly,  to  retrace  his 
steps  to  Leedsville,  *  a  hamlet  about  eight  miles  from  Laurel 
Hill;  near  which  place,  taking  the  Leading  Creek  road,  he 
had  struck  off  north-eastward  across  the  mountains,  with  the 
hope  of  escaping  into  Hardy  County  by  a  route  leading  through 
Saint  George,  a  village  magnified  by  map-makers  as  the  seat  of 
justice  for  Tucker  County.    Already  exhausted  by  their  night's 
work,  and  now  just  entering  upon  a  long  forced  march  over 
narrow  and  ill-kept  mountain  roads,  the  fugitives  had  a  dreary 
prospect  before  them,  and  could  they  have  seen  the  vigor  of 
the  pursuit,  they  would  have  realized  still  more  keenly  the 
perils  of  their  situation.     It  was  to  little  purpose  that  the 
rebels  had  labored  hard  in  felling  timber  at  various  points 
*  Leedsville  is  really  about  two  miles  south  of  the  point  indicated  on  map. 


LAUREL   HILL.  77 

behind  them,  Benham's  axemen  quickly  hewing  a  pathway 
through  every  obstruction ;  but  the  blockade  at  the  entrance 
of  the  Leading  Creek  road  threatened  to  occasion  a  serious 
delay  until  a  guide  was  found  who  conducted  the  column 
around  it,  when  the  troops  again  pressed  forward.  Night  fell 
prematurely  for  the  work  in  hand,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
halt;  pickets  were  thrown  out,  and  the  main  force  lay  down 
by  the  road-side,  or  crouched  under  the  dripping  laurel  bushes 
to  rest,  but  few  of  them  to  sleep.  Hours  later,  the  regiments 
in  the  rear  came  up,  and  were  dismissed  to  the  same  comfort 
less  experience. 

It  rained  nearly  all  night,  and  at  dawn,  when  the  troops 
were  roused  again,  a  dense,  chilly  fog  hung  like  a  pall  over  the 
earth.  By  four  o'clock  the  advance  was  in  motion ;  but  wrhat 
with  the  time  lost  in  standing  shivering  in  line,  and  in  making 
a  thrice-welcome  cup  of  coffee,  it  was  near  seven  before  the 
reserve  fairly  started.  Within  the  first  mile  the  mist  changed 
to  a  cold,  drizzling  rain,  before  long  increasing  to  a  persistent, 
pouring  mountain  storm.  The  march  of  that  eagerly  pursuing 
column  is  memorable  among  the  earlier  exploits  of  the  war. 
It  was  performed  by  green  troops,  inured  to  none  of  the  hard 
ships  and  fatigues  of  active  campaigning,  and  as  yet  only  learn 
ing  the  soldierly  lessons  of  patience  and  self-reliance  by  which 
alone  they  are  made  endurable.  To  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather  and  the  weariness  consequent  upon  the  rapid  march 
of  the  previous  day,  and  a  night  passed  shelterless  in  the  rain, 
were  added  the  severities  of  hunger,  many  of  the  men  having 
been  permitted  to  start  without  their  haversacks,  and  the 
whole  provision  train  consisting  of  four  light  wagons. 

Following  the  roadway,  whose  bottom  had  become  a  soft, 
sticky  paste,  the  troops  twice  forded  Leading  Creek,  and  at 
length  struck  a  turnpike,  as  the  natives  denominate  it,  on 


78  THE   STOEY   OF   A   KEGIMENT. 

which,  for  a  few  miles,  they  were  enabled  to  make  better 
progress.  As  they  passed  through  the  little  village  of  ^ew 
Interest,  on  the  border  of  Randolph  County,  the  rain  de 
scended  in  torrents;  but  without  losing  time  in  making  their 
inquiries,  they  ascertained  from  the  citizens,  who  stood  gaping 
in  their  doorways,  that  Garnett's  force  was  only  three  or  four 
hours'  march  ahead,  and*  this  intelligence  was  more  than  con 
firmed  by  the  reports  sent  back  by  the  advance.  About  the 
middle  of  the  forenoon  they  reached  a  point  where  the  route 
of  the  fugitives  deflected  abruptly  to  the  right,  across  the 
mountains,  toward  the  Cheat  River,  which,  in  that  part  of  its 
course,  is  known  as  Shafer's  Fork.  Debouching  from  the 
mountains  into  the  Cheat  bottoms,  Garnett's  forces  would 
strike  a  better  road,  along  which  they  could  move  more  rap 
idly  down  the  river  to  Saint  George ;  but  their  path  over  the 
mountains  was  a  mere  by-road,  rough,  narrow,  and  difficult, 
and  here  the  pursuit  became  an  extraordinary  test  of  the  men's 
endurance.  Indescribably  bad  already,  the  road  grew  worse 
and  worse ;  the  storm  continued,  with  no  sign  of  slackening, 
which,  however,  was  of  less  consequence,  as  all  had  been 
soaking  wet  for  hours ;  rushing  down  the  mountain  sides  the 
water  poured  into  the  roadway  and  converted  it  into  a  chan 
nel  down  which  crawled  a  current  of  liquid  mud  more  than 
shoe-top  deep ;  and,  faint  with  hunger  as  they  were,  some  of 
the  weaker  ones  crept  aside  into  the  bushes,  and  lay  down  to 
rest.  Still  the  column  toiled  onward.  Benham  had  fairly 
closed  in  upon  Garnett's  rear-guard,  and  every  mile  showed 
increasing  evidences  of  the  disorganization  which  prevailed  in 
the  enemy's  ranks.  The  advance  had  quickly  cleared  away  the 
trees  thrown  across  their  path  at  various  difficult  passages, 
until  coming  up  with  a  body  of  pickets  protecting  the  axemen, 
they  had  fired  upon  them  and  driven  them  rapidly.  The 


LAUREL   HILL.  79 

rebel  teamsters  had  thrown  out  hundreds  of  tents,  tent  poles, 
litters,  camp-kettles,  etc.,  to  lighten  their  loads,  and  in  two  or 
.three  places  heavy  four-horse  wagons  had  been  upset  and  left 
hanging  almost  in  mid-air  above  deep  gorges,  down  which  the 
trunks  of  trees  and  a  dense  underbrush  alone  prevented  them 
from  rolling.  Some  of  the  scared  and  sore-pressed  fugitives 
had  cast  aside  and  trodden  into  the  mire  various  articles  of 
wearing  apparel  and  even  their  accouterments.  Fleet-footed 
as  the  flying  Army  of  North-western  Virginia  was,  the  tread 
of  disaster  was  keeping  it  constant  company. 


80  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTEE    VI. 
CAR  RICK'S    FORD. 

(JULY  13-20,  1801.) 

MERGING  from  the  woods,  the  reserve  at  length  de- 
scended  the  mountain  side  into  the  fertile  meadow 
lands  bordering  Cheat  River,  where  the  remains  of  a  camp 
were  smoldering,  at  which  a  body  of  rebels  had  halted  to  cook 
the  meal  they  so  much  needed,  but  which  the  advance  had 
broken  up  in  confusion.  Just  beyond  this  it  forded  the  river 
at  Kahler's — the  current  more  than  knee-deep,  swift,  and 
cold — and  a  short  distance  further  on  passed  a  second*  and 
much  wider  ford.  Meanwhile  tidings  from  the  front  were 
growing  more  and  more  exciting.  Several  shots  had  been 
heard  distinctly,  and  now  firing  broke  out  afresh,  this  time  the 
roar  of  artillery  less  than  two  miles  distant.  The  endurance 
of  all  had  been  terribly  tried,  until  the  men  were  falling  out 
almost  by  squads ;  but  now — forward !  fast  and  faster  forward ! 
It  was,  indeed,  the  sound  of  conflict,  the  action  magnified  by 
contemporaneous  history  as  the  battle  of  Carrick's  Ford, 
which  Captain  Benharn's  official  report  to  General  Morris  de 
scribes  as  follows : 

"At  the  ford,  near  '  Kahler's,'  and  at  about  one-half  the  distance 
to  another  ford,  which  we  met  with  about  half  a  mile  further  on, 


81 

we  saw  the  baggage  train  of  the  enemy,  apparently  at  rest.  This 
I  proposed  to  attack  as  soon  as  strengthened  by  the  arrival  of 
Steedman's  second  battalion,  with  Dumont's  regiment,  when  the 
thoughtless  firing  of  a  musket  at  our  ford  set  the  train  rapidly  in 
motion,  and  long  lines  of  infantry  were  formed  in  order  of  battle 
to  protect  it.  In  a  few  minutes,  however,  the  arrival  of  Barnett's 
artillery,  with  Dumont  close  upon  it,  enabled  the  command  to  push 
forward  in  its  original  order.  But  the  train  and  its  guard  had  re 
tired,  leaving  only  a  few  skirmishers  to  meet  us  at  the  second  ford, 
where,  however,  quite  a  brisk  firing  was  kept  up  by  the  advance 
regiments,  and  the  artillery  opened  for  some  minutes,  to  clear  the 
adjacent  woods  the  more  completely  of  the  enemy.  [Here  six 
companies  of  Colonel  Ramsey's  Georgia  regiment  were  cut  off,  but 
eventually  succeeded  in  escaping  through  the  woods.]  We  then 
continued  our  march  rapidly  t^o  this  (Carrick's)  ford,  and,  as  we 
approached  it,  we  came  upon  their  train,  the  last  half  of  it  just 
crossing  the  river.  The  enemy  was  found  to  have  taken  a  strong 
position,  with-  his  forces  upon  a  precipitous  bank  of  some  fifty  to 
eighty  feet  in  height,  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream,  while  our 
own  troops  were  upon  the  low  land,  nearly  level  with  the  river. 
Steedman's  regiment,  in  the  advance,  opened  its  fire  most  gallantly 
upon  them,  which  was  immediately  returned  by  their  strong  force 
of  infantry  and  their  cannon  ;  upon  which  Barnett's  artillery  was 
ordered  up,  and  opened  upon  them  with  excellent  effect.  As  I 
soon  perceived  a  position  by  which  their  left  could  be  turned,  six 
companies  of  Dumont's  regiment  were  ordered  to  cross  the  river 
about  three  hundred  yards  above  them,  to  pass  up  the  hill 
obliquely  from  our  right  to  their  left,  and  take  them  in  the  rear. 
By  some  mistake  (possibly  in  the  transmission  of  the  order)  this 
command  crossed  at  about  double  this  distance,  and  turned  at  first 
to  the  right,  which  delayed  the  effect  of  the  movement.  After 
fifteen  minutes,  however,  the  error  was  rectified,  and  the  hill  being 
reported  as  impracticable,  this  command,  now  increased  to  the 
whole  regiment,  was  ordered  down  to  the  ford  under  close  cover 
6 


82  THE   STORY   OF   A   EEGIMEXT. 

of  the  hill  on  the  side  of  the  enemy,  and  then  to  take  the  latter 
directly  in  front  and  right  at  the  road.  The  firing  of  Steedman's 
regiment  and  of  Milroy's — now  well  up  and  in  action — with  re 
peated  and  rapid  discharges  of  the  artillery  during  the  movement, 
decided  the  action  at  once.  As  Durnont  reached  the  road,  having 
passed  along  and  under  their  whole  front,  the  firing  ceased,  and 
the  enemy  fled  in  great  confusion.  Dumont's  regiment,  pursuing 
them  about  one-half  mile  further,  had  a  brisk  skirmishing  with 
their  rear  for  the  first  half  of  that  distance,  during  which  General 
Garnett  was  killed. 

"  The  enemy  would  still  have  been  followed  up  most  closely, 
and  probably  to  the  capture  of  a  large  portion  of  their  scattered 
army,  but  that  this  was  absolutely  impossible  with  our  fatigued  and 
exhausted  troops,  who  had  already  marched  some  eighteen  miles  or 
more,  in  an  almost  incessant  and  violent  rain,  and  the  greater  part 
of  them  without  food  since  the  evening,  and  a  portion  of  them 
even  from  the  noon  of  yesterday — so  warm  had  been  the  pursuit  of 
the  enemy  in  their  hasty  retreat  from  Laurel  Mountain,  twenty- 
seven  miles  distant.  The  troops  were,  therefore,  halted  for  food 
and  rest,  at  about  two  o'clock  P.  M. 

"  The  result  proves  to  be  the  capture  of  about  forty  loaded  wag 
ons  and  teams,  being  nearly  all  their  baggage  train,  as  we  learn, 
and  including  a  large  amount  of  new  clothing,  camp  equipage,  and 
other  stores ;  their  Head-quarter  papers  and  military  chest ;  also, 
two  stands  of  colors ;  also,  a  third  flag,  taken  since,  and  one  fine 
rifled  piece  of  artillery ;  while  the  commanding  general,  Robert  S. 
Garnett,  is  killed — his  body  being  now  cared  for  by  us — and  fifteen 
or  twenty  more  of  the  enemy  are  killed,  and  we  have  nearly  fifty 
prisoners.  Our  own  loss  is  two  killed  and  six  wounded,  one  dan 
gerously. 

"  In  concluding  this  report,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  state  that,  just 
as  the  action  was  closing,  the  head  regiment  of  the  body  of  troops 
under  yourself  (though  starting,  as  I  learn,  some  three  hours 
later),  the  Sixth  Indiana,  Colonel  Crittenden,  came  up  to  the  field 


83 

in  excellent  order,  but,  unfortunately,  too  late  to  aid  us  in  the 
battle." 

Provoking  though  it  was  to  have  been  "  too  late/'  the  reserve 
was  no  less  thankful  than  the  advance  to  halt  for  the  night. 

O  7 

having  marched  not  less  than  thirty  miles  since  5  P.  M.  of 
the  previous  day.  The  rain  had  now  ceased ;  it  was  nearly 
three  o'clock.  The  beeves  that  were  sacrificed  to  appease  the 
god  of  hunger ;  the  blazing  fires  that  were  made  to  steam  off  the 
wet  pack  which  the  clothes  of  all  had  become  under  Nature's 
hydropathic  bounty;  the  jokes  that  were  circulated — the  only 
dry  things  possible  amid  the  prevailing  humidity;  the  hearty 
exchange  of  congratulations,  that  were  so  much  more  plentiful 
than  hard  tack,  in  the  mouths  of  all ;  the  musings  upon  the 
battle-field  "  where  valor  fought  in  other  times ;"  the  exulta 
tions  of  victory,  with  the  proud  thought  of  what  they  would 
say  at  home ;  the  pity  and  the  awe  of  gazing  for  the  first  time 
upon  the  faces  of  the  dead  slain  in  battle — these  reminiscences, 
and  more,  are  they  not  all  laid  up  in  the  treasure-house  of 
many  a  memory  which,  through  long  years  to  come,  will  de 
light  to  wander  back  to  that  Saturday,  July  13th,  and  its 
bivouac  between  the  fog^wreathed  mountains  on  the  banks  of 
Cheat? 

Garnett,  who  was  the  first  general  officer  killed  during  the 
war,  fell  bravely  attempting  to  rally  his  men  at  the  ford  imme 
diately  below  the  house  of  Mr.  James  Carrick,  or  about  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  from  that  where  the  main  fighting  took  place, 
"  Not  a  Virginian  stood  by  him  when  he  fell,"  says  an  able 
letter-writer,*  expressing  the  common  sentiment  of  the  vic 
tors  ;  "  the  whole  cowardly  crew  had  fled,  and,  of  all  that  army 
of  four  thousand,  but  one  was  with  his  general — a  slight,  boy- 

*  "Agate,"  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  Mr.  John  Whitelaw  Reid. 


84  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ish  figure,  with  scarcely  the  down  of  approaching  manhood 
on  his  face,  and  wearing  the  Georgia  uniform  and  button. 
Bravely  he  had  stood  by  his  general  to  the  last;  and  when 
Garnett  fell,  he  fell  too.  There  they  lay,  in  that  wild  region 
on  the  banks  of  the  Cheat,  with  (  back  to  the  field  and  face  to 
the  foe.'  There,  on  that  rugged  bank,  had  come  the  solemn 
issue.  They  met  it  courageously,  and  fell  as  brave  men  fall." 
Though  the  criticism  here  implied  is  not  wholly  just,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  Colonel  Taliaferro's  Twenty-third  Virginia 
constituted  the  rear-guard  (which  Garnett  was  in  the  act  of 
rallying  when  shot)  it  is  unquestionably  true  that  the  rebels 
were  so  badly  demoralized  as  to  show  no  stomach  for  the  fight. 
Even  Pollard,  prince  of  romancers  (who  has  the  eifrontery  to 
characterize  the  battle  as  a  gallant  little  affair  on  the  part  of 
the  rebels,  and  to  call  the  retreat  a  success),  is  forced  to  a  con 
fession  of  some  doubts  whether  the  position  at  the  ford  might 
not  have  been  longer  maintained.* 

The  troops  slept  late  on  Sunday  morning,  and,  after  breakfast, 
details  were  made  to  bury  the  dead,  among  whom  were  one  or 

*  The  vigor  of  the  pursuit  greatly  astonished  the  rebels,  and  converted 
their  retreat  into  a  genuine  stampede.  Says  a  Southern  newspaper  ac 
count,  written,  as  the  reader  will  perceive,  under  the  misapprehension  that 
McClellan  personally  directed  the  pursuit:  "Without  allowing  his  tired 
soldiers  a  moment's  respite,  General  George  B.  McClellan  hotly  pursued 
our  army,  and  although  continually  checked  and  kept  at  bay,  by  our  gal 
lant  reserve,  still  continued  the  attack  with  unabated  energy.  "Without 
hesitation,  he  boldly  gave  battle  at  every  point;  and  although  the  fighting 
can  not  be  called  more  than  skirmishing  on  a  large  scale,  it,  nevertheless, 
lasted  throughout  the  day.  In  the  evening  the  news  came  in  that  a  com 
pany  of  a  Georgia  regiment  had  been  cut  off  by  the  enemy  and  made  pris 
oners.  This  little  episode  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  battle  of  Carrick's 
Ford.  General  McClellan  followed  it  up,  and  drove  our  troops  from  their 
covered  position  across  the  river,  and  captured  the  greater  portion  of  our 


85 

two  of  the  Union  wounded,  and  two  or  three  rebels,  who  had 
died  during  the  night.  The  brave  young  Georgian  was  honored 
with  a  separate  burial,  in  Mr.  Carrick's  orchard,  and  a  head 
board,  011  which  was  penciled  this  inscription  :  "  Name  un 
known.  A  brave  fellow,  who  shared  his  general's  fate,  and 
fell  fighting  at  his  side,  while  his  companions  fled."  A  little 
before  noon  Major  Gordon  started  for  Rowlesburg,  with  Gen 
eral  Garnett's  body,  which,  together  with  his  sword  and  per 
sonal  effects,  was  afterward  sent  to  Washington  and  thence 
through  the  lines  to  his  mourning  family  at  Richmond.  An 
hour  later,  the  brigade  set  out  upon  its  return  to  Laurel  Hill, 
Companies  C  and  H,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  remaining  behind  as 
part  of  a  detachment  in  charge  of  the  prisoners  and  captured 
trains.  Notwithstanding  that  Cheat  River  was  forded  four 
times  before  sundown,  the  march  was  a  pleasant  one,  the  roads 
having  wonderfully  improved,  and  the  sun  shining  brightly 
again.  General  Morris  had  been  notified  that  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  Hill — a  three-months7  officer,  holding  his  commission 
from  the  State  of  Ohio — was  in  rapid  motion  southward  from 

baggage.  The  activity  displayed  by  General  McClellan  on  this  occasion 
is  deserving  of  high  praise.  Nothing  seemed  to  stand  in  his  way ;  despite 
the  heavy,  intermittent  rain,  and  the  execrable  roads,  his  troops  displayed 
a  fortitude  and  energy  that  commands  admiration.  For  two  days,  with 
indefatigable  determination,  he  followed  close  upon  our  heels.  Whenever 
we  sought  a  few  moments'  rest,  we  were  aroused  by  the  fire  of  his 
riflemen  at  our  outposts,  and  the  bullets,  which  were  flying  about  in  all 
directions,  made  our  position  any  thing  but  comfortable.  General 
McClellan,  who  might  feel  well  satisfied  with  the  result  of  the  day,  here 
gave  up  the  pursuit.  Having  defeated  and  demoralized  our  army,  he  re 
mained  master  of  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  with  the  greater  portion 
of  our  guns  and  baggage  as  booty.  Verily  could  he  report  to  Washing 
ton  :  '  Our  success  is  complete ;  secession  in  this  part  of  the  country  is 
stopped.'  " 


86  THE  STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Rowlesburg  to  intercept  the  flying  enemy;  but  at  Saint 
George,  where  the  troops  encamped  for  the  night,  ten  miles 
from  Carrick's  Ford,  he  was  met  by  the  intelligence  that  Gar- 
nett's  forces  had  succeeded  in  making  their  escape.  At  half 
past  four  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the  march  was  resumed, 
and  once  more  fording  Cheat  River,  at  this  point  unusually 
wide,  the  brigade  began  that  exhausting  march  of  thirty  odd 
miles,  which  every  surviving  participant  so  well  remembers  as 
"the  return  from  Carrick's  Ford."  At  nightfall,  when  the 
men,  faint  with  hunger,  began  -straggling  into  camp,  they 
scarcely  retained  the  semblance  of  organization,  and  some  did 
not  come  in  before  midnight. 

General  McClellan's  immediate  command,  meanwhile,  had 
not  been  idle.  Beverly  was  occupied  on  the  morning  of  July 
12th,  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  and  in  the 
afternoon-  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pegram  and  six  hundred  of 
his  men  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war,  worn  out  with 
their  fruitless  night  march  to  Laurel  Hill,  and  their  aimless 
wanderings  among  the  mountains,  which  were  now  within 
the  Union  lines.  Next  day  McClellan  moved  on  to  Hut- 
tons  ville,  where  the  retreating  rebels  had  burnt  the  bridge 
over  the  Tygart's  Valley  River,  and  from  thence,  on  Sunday, 
telegraphed  to  Washington  the  crowning  victory  of  Carrick's 
Ford.  On  Monday  he  advanced  the  Third  and  Ninth  Ohio, 
Loornis'  battery,  and  other  troops  several  miles  further,  or 
nearly  to  the  summit  of  Cheat  Mountain,  which  he  then  began 
fortifying.  As  for  the  fugitive  remnant  of  the  Army  of  North 
western  Virginia,  after  abandoning  their  remaining  artillery 
and  baggage,  the  rebels  had  turned  sharply  off  at  Horseshoe 
Run,  not  quite  half  way  to  Saint  George,  climbed  several  suc 
cessive  mountain  ranges,  and  passed  through  the  corner  of 


CAREICK'S  FORD.  87 

Maryland  into  Hardy  County,  with  the  intention  of  seeking 
refuge  with  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  then  occupying .  the 
Shenandoah  Valley.  Finding  that  the  pursuit  had  been  given 
up,  however,  they  rested  a  short  time  in  the  vicinity  of  Peters 
burg,  and  then  marched  southward,  under  Colonel  Ramsey, 
to  unite  with  General  H.  R.  Jackson's  force  at  Monterey,  in 
Highland  County,  the  quarter  toward  which  Garnett's  reserves 
had  originally  retreated  from  Beverly. 

It  is  foreign  to  the  scope  and  purpose  of  this  volume  to 
attempt  any  review  of  McClelland  campaign  in  Western  Vir 
ginia,  which  was  thus  terminated.  He  was  the  commander- 
in-chief  under  whom  the  "  Army  of  Occupation "  marched  to 
victories,  which  were  not  trifling  as  regards  their  moral  effect 
at  least,  much  as  they  may  be  dwarfed  by  comparison  with 
the  many  stupendous  achievements  of  later  date ;  and  upon  this 
limited  field  he  showed  more  vigor  and  decision  than  at  any 
other  period  in  his  whole  career.  Yet  no  unbiased  student 
can  fail  to  mark  in  how  singularly  great  degree  the  results  of 
even  this  campaign  were  due  to  purely  fortuitous  circum 
stances  :  to  the  mistakes  of  his  opponent,  conspicuously  in 
taking  position  so  far  beyond  Beverly,  in  the  rear  of  which 
place  such  a  flanking  movement  as  was  the  advance  from 
Buckhannon  must  have  proved  extremely  difficult,  if  not  im 
possible  ;  to  the  enterprise  and  emulative  daring  of  subordi 
nates;  and  to  his  great  preponderance  in  that  most  important 
particular,  "  the  heavy  battalions."  Two  years  later  there  was 
scarcely  a  six-months'  colonel  in  either  of  the  contending 
armies,  who  might  not  properly  have  deemed  himself  insulted 
had  he  been  judged  incapable  of  planning  a  campaign,  and 
prosecuting  it  successfully,  under  conditions  equally  favorable. 

About  ten  days  after  the  action  of  Car  rick's  Ford,  the  three- 
months'  volunteers,  happy  and  sunburnt,  marched  to  the  rear, 


88  THE   STOEY   OF   A   KEGIMEXT. 

and  took  cars  for  home.  The  infantry  regiments  all  reorgan 
ized,  and  were  in  the  field  again  weeks  before  the  next  winter's 
snow  fell.  The  Fourteenth  Ohio,  rendezvousing  at  Toledo, 
and  retaining  its  old  commander,  was  sent  into  Kentucky, 
while  the  officers  and  men  of  Barnett's  battery  "gave  to  the 
country  the  benefits  of  their  excellent  drill,  acquired  during 
their  many  years'  practice,  as  well  as  their  experience  in  the 
field  during  their  short  but  active  campaign  in  Virginia,  by 
becoming  officers  "^  in  several  of  the  batteries  Avhich  afterward 
composed  the  First  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Artillery,*  with 
Colonel  Barnett  at  the  head  of  its  roster.  The  Seventh  and 
Ninth  Indiana  rejoined  the  Sixth  Ohio  at  Elkwater,  under 
circumstances  which  form  a  part  of  our  narrative  in  a  soon 
succeeding  chapter,  nearly  simultaneously  with  which  the  Sixth 
Indiana  completed  its  reorganization,  and  was  hurried  across  the 
Ohio  to  reenforce  "  crazy  Sherman,"  where  he  lay  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  Kentucky,  a  grim  barrier  across  Buckner's  approach  to 
Louisville.  We  shall  find  it  again  marching  and  fighting  in 
close  companionship  with  the  Sixth  Ohio,  a  little  more  than 
two  years  later. 

Holding  a  three-months'  commission  merely,  General  Mor 
ris,  after  conducting  the  three-months7  Indiana  regiments  to 
Indianapolis,  was  honorably  discharged,  on  the  27th  of  July. 
A  few  weeks  later,  President  Lincoln,  through  a  mutual 
friend,  tendered  him  a  major-generalship,  which  he  accepted, 
but  from  some  cause  (supposed  to  be  the  disfavor  of  General 
McClellan,  who  had  meantime  become  the  chief  repository  of 
military  power  at  Washington)  the  commission  was  withheld; 
and  when,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  he  was  again  offered  an  ap- 

*  Adjutant-General  Buckingham's  Report  for  1861. 


89 

pointment — first  as  brigadier-general,  and  afterward  as  major- 
general — he  declined  it  on  the  ground  that  self-respect  forbade 
the  acceptance  of  any  other  commission  than  that  originally 
tendered  and  then  withheld  without  any  assigned  cause,  espe 
cially  as  a  large  number  of  junior  officers  had  been  given 
ranking  positions  in  the  interim.  Resuming  the  duties  of 
Chief  Engineer  on  the  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  Railroad, 
he  supervised  the  construction  of  the  Ohio  portion  from  Law- 
renceburg  to  Cincinnati,  and  has  since  been  chosen  one  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  that  road,  in  addition  to  his  services  in 
the  former  connection. 


90  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

BEVERLY. 

(JULY  21- AUGUST  29,  1861.) 

AT  8  A.  M.,  on  Sunday,  July  21st,  the  Sixth  Ohio  again 
moved  forward,  crossing  the  Laurel  Hill  range  by  the 
same  zig-zag  road  through  a  wide  expanse  of  forest  solitudes, 
by  which  it  made  its  night  march  in  pursuit  of  Garnett,  and, 
as  it  descended  the  slope  of  the  mountain,  met  the  Eighth 
and  Tenth  Indiana — three-months'  men — homeward  bound 
and  happy.  The  noonday  halt  was  a  long  one,  so  that  the 
sun  was  setting  just  as  the  regiment  came  in  sight  of  Beverly, 
lying  directly  below  it,  in  a  fertile  vale  that  stretched  away 
in  quiet  beauty  toward  Cheat  Mountain,  several  miles  beyond. 
The  troops  were  covered  with  dust,  weary  and  foot-sore,  from 
their  march  of  twenty  miles,  but  when  the  field  music  began 
playing,  the  ranks  closed  up  at  once,  and  marched  through  the 
town  in  handsome  style,  past  General  McClellan,  who  stood  in 
front  of  head-quarters  at  the  Valley  House,  watching  the  regi 
ment  file  by.  It  was  dark  before  the  tents  were  pitched,  in 
a  meadow  half  a  mile  beyond  Beverly,  near  the  camp  of  the 
Fourth  Ohio  and  McClellan's  body-guard.  Somewhat  after 
midnight  rain  began  falling.  Were  the  very  heavens  in  pity, 
weeping  over  the  nation's  calamity  ? — for  at  that  very  hour  of 
this  sultry  Sabbath  night  the  rain-drops  were  plashing  on  the 


BEVERLY.  91 

upturned  faces  of  the  dead  at  Bull  Run.  On  Tuesday  morn 
ing,  General  McClellan  left  for  Washington,  to  which  point 
he  had  been  summoned  in  haste,  for  reasons  which  became 
only  too  evident  when  rumors  shaped  themselves,  as  they  soon 
did,  into  the  sure  and  heavy  tidings  of  disaster.  A  few  hours 
afterward  the  Sixth  Ohio  moved  back  to  the  northern  out 
skirts  of  Beverly,  where,  in  a  pleasant,  though  somewhat 
restricted  camping  ground,  it  remained  until  advanced  to  Elk- 
water,  five  and  a  half  weeks  later.  Company  A  fronted  upon 
the  turnpike,  while,  a  few  rods  in  rear  of  the  encampment, 
flowed  that  fast  friend  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  the  Tygart's  Valley 
River,  here  a  slender  stream  compared  with  its  volume  at 
Fetterman,  sixty-two  miles  below.  The  right  of  Companies 
B  and  G  rested  on  the  village  grave-yard,  and  on  the  left  the 
regimental  lines  included  a  two-story  brick  school-house,  for  a 
short  time  used  as  a  place  of  confinement  for  rebel  prisoners, 
and  afterward  as  guard  quarters.  Westward,  across  the  river, 
with  a  stretch  of  fertile  bottom-land  between,  rose  the  dark 
green  heights  of  Rich  Mountain;  seven  miles  away,  to  the 
south-eastward,  appeared  the  dimmer  outlines  of  the  Cheat 
Mountain  range. 

General  Rosecrans,  upon  whom  the  command  of  the  depart 
ment  now  devolved,  immediately  transferred  head-quarters  to 
Grafton,  whence,  on  the  25th  of  July,  he  issued  an  order  divid 
ing  the  little  "Army  of  Occupation"  into  four  brigades,  of 
which  the  Fir^t  comprised  the  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth,  and 
Fifteenth  Indiana,  the  Third  Ohio,  BurdsaPs  cavalry,  and 
Loomis'  battery,  together  with  "  the  depot  of  Beverly,  con 
sisting  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  detachments  of  the  First  and  Second 
Virginia  Regiments,  and  Bracken's  cavalry ; "  the  Tenth  Ohio 
was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  and  the  Ninth  Ohio  to 
the  Third,  while  the  First  and  Second  Kentucky  were  placed 


92  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

in  the  Fourth,  General  Cox's  "Brigade  of  the  Kanawha." 
The  withdrawal  of  the  three-months'  regiments  materially 
weakened  the  army  in  Western  Virginia,  now  composed  of 
Ohio  troops  mainly;*  and  the  disastrous  issue  of  the  Bull 
Hun  campaign  having  concentrated  the  nation's  attention 
upon  the  imperiled  capital,  for  some  weeks  the  region  of 
the  Potomac  continued  to  absorb  nearly  all  the  reenforce- 
ments  which  the  North  was  enabled  to  hurry  to  the  field. 
Elated  by  their  triumph  at  Manassas,  the  rebel  authorities 
were  swift  to  seize  this  fancied  opportunity  for  reconquer 
ing  Western  Virginia,  and  driving  the  Union  forces  beyond 
the  Ohio.  General  Floyd's  brigade,  which  had  originally 
been  ordered  to  Jackson  River,  in  Highland  County,  for  the 
relief  of  Garnett's  retreating  army,  was  diverted  to  the  Kana 
wha  Valley,  there  beginning  aggressive  movements  imme 
diately,  but  was  more  than  replaced  upon  the  former  line  of 
operations  by  heavy  reinforcements,  under  the  personal  com 
mand  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee,  which  were  pushed  forward, 
with  very  little  delay,  to  within  a  day's  march  of  the  Union 
positions  at  the  Cheat  Mountain  Gaps.  It  may  be  easily  un 
derstood  that,  so  far  from  being  the  routine  of  camp  and  gar 
rison  life  merely,  the  duty  devolving  upon  Rosecrans'  army 
was  arduous  and  exacting,  as  the  Union  forces  were  widely 
scattered,  and  many  parts  of  the  country  infested  with  rebel 
guerrillas,  both  of  which  circumstances  made  heavy  details 
necessary  to  guard  communications ;  at  the  same  time,  it  was 
essential  that  a  bold  front  should  be  maintained  at  every  ex 
posed  point,  and  the  enemy's  superiority  in  numbers  neutralized 

^Adjutant-General  Buckingham's  Keport  says  that  on  the  1st  of  August, 
the  entire  force  of  three-years'  troops  which  Ohio  had  sent  into  the  field, 
was  serving  in  Western  Virginia. 


BEVERLY.  93 

by  unceasing,  vigilance,  and  wisely  improving  every  advantage 
afforded  by  a  choice  of  positions.  To  the  First  Brigade  was 
assigned  the  important  service  of  holding  the  Cheat  Mountain 
Gaps,  barring  the  enemy's  only  practicable  approaches  to  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  down  the  Tygart's  Valley,  and 
of  protecting  the  line  back  to  Graft-on  from  any  incursions 
from  beyond  the  Alleghanies.  The  command  of  this  brigade 
was  given  to  General  Reynolds,  an  officer  every  way  worthy 
of  the  high  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  the  department  com 
mander. 

General  Joseph  Jones  Reynolds,  though  born  in  Kentucky, 
became  an  adopted  son  of  Indiana  many  years  before  the  out 
break  of  the  rebellion,  and  graduated  at  West  Point  Military 
Academy,  in  1843,  in  the  same  class  with  General  Grant,  but 
leaving  the  army  after  a  comparatively  short  service,  settled  in 
Lafayette,  Indiana.  Beginning  the  labor  of  raising  troops 
immediately  upon  the  President's  first  call,  he  was  commis 
sioned  Colonel  of  the  Tenth  Indiana,  and  placed  in  command 
of  Camp  Morton,  where  the  organization  of  the  three-months' 
regiments  was  perfected,  and  they  were  then  turned  over,  as  we 
have  seen,  to  the  command  of  General  Morris.  On  the  17th  of 
May  he  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers,  at 
that  date  having  held  a  similar  rank  in  the  State  service  for 
just  one  week ;  and  about  the  same  time  the  surplus  men  who 
had  been  recruited  under  the  three-months'  call  were  organ 
ized  into  another  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Thirteenth,  Four 
teenth,  Fifteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Indiana.  With  this  com 
mand  (which  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first  organized 
three-years'  brigade  in  the  field),  General  Reynolds,  in  July, 
repaired  to  Western  Virginia — the  Thirteenth  Indiana  reaching 
there  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain, 


94  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

where  it  was  the   only  three-years'  organization  actually  en 
gaged. 

Beverly,  where  the  Sixth  Ohio  remained  until  the  end  of 
August,  was  a  post  of  considerable  importance,  not  only  as 
being  a  depot  of  supplies,  but  also  because  numerous  paths, 
practicable  for  both  cavalry  and  infantry,  centered  there  from 
beyond  the  mountains,  and  thus  rendered  it  a  somewhat  vulner 
able  point  upon  Reynolds7  line  of  communications.  Colonel  Bos- 
ley  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  post,  that  of  the  regi 
ment  thereupon  devolving  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson. 
Among  other  duties  intrusted  to  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  that  of 
scouting  the  neighboring  mountains,  around  to  the  front  of 
Cheat  Mountain  Summit,  which,  although  attended  with  some 
danger,  and  an  amount  of  fatigue  and  exposure  almost  inde 
scribable,  was  exceedingly  popular  with  the  men,  for  whom  it 
possessed  all  the  charms  of  novelty  and  excitement,  combined 
with  fine  opportunities  .for  winning  distinction.  No  one 
thought  of  regular  details  when  a  scouting  party  was  organ 
ized  ;  volunteers  crowded  about  head-quarters  in  such  numbers 
that  to  be  one  of  those  selected  was  deemed  quite  a  mark  of 
favor.  At  first,  the  scouts  undertaken  were  in  small  parties, 
under  the  guidance  of  men  possessing  experience  in  this  branch 
of  service,  the  most  noted  of  whom  was  John  L.  Thomas,  a 
member  of  the  Tenth  Indiana,  who  had  voluntarily  remained 
behind  when  his  regiment  returned  home,  and  taken  up  his 
quarters  with  Company  G,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio.  In  a  short 
time,  however,  the  regiment  could  point  to  a  band  of  scouts, 
in  its  own  ranks,  as  daring  and  efficient  as  any  in  the  de 
partment — Choate  and  Martin,  both  of  Company  I,  and  others. 
On  the  5th  of  August,  a  few  picked  men  from  Company  E 
started  upon  a  scout,  under  Sergeant  Leonard  E.  Boice,  and 
succeeded  in  capturing  six  prisoners ;  among  the  rest,  a  colonel 


BEVERLY.  95 

of  Virginia  militia,  just  returned  from  Richmond,  and  an  old 
bald-headed  citizen,  who  had  important  letters  upon  his  per 
son,  and  sketches  of  the  Union  camps  concealed  in  the  soles 
of  his  shoes. 

The  date  last  given  marks  one  of  the  most  eventful  days  of 
this  period.  In  the  morning,  Company  D  struck  tents  and 
moved  back  toward  Leedsville,  to  protect  the  Unionists  of  that 
vicinity,  and  guard  what  was  considered  a  somewhat  exposed 
point  on  the  line  of  communications,  while  the  day  was  brought 
to  a  close  by  a  terrible  accident.  The  scout  Thomas,  standing 
in  one  of  the  tents  of  Company  G,  was  loading  his  piece, 
preparatory  to  a  night  tour  beyond  the  pickets,  when,  by  some 
means,  it  exploded,  and  the  charge  taking  effect  among  a  group 
in  Company  K,  which  was  just  forming  for  dress  parade,  pri 
vate  George  Yeager  received  a  severe  flesh  wound,  and  Cor 
poral  Harvey  S.  Ford  was  shot  through  both  legs  and  fearfully 
mangled.  The  latter  underwent  amputation  next  morning,  at 
the  skillful  hands  of  Surgeon  Loving,  and  received  every  pos 
sible  attention,  in  spite  of  which  he  died,  from  the  effects  of 
gangrene  and  exhaustion,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  and  was 
buried  in  the  afternoon.  This  was  the  first  death  in  the  three- 
years'  regiment.  Though  immediately  arrested,  to  answer  for 
his  alleged  carelessness,  Thomas  was  released  before  the  next 
morning,  and  came  and  went,  as  usual,  for  two  weeks  longer, 
when  he  was  released  from  further  service  by  an  affair  of  still 
more  tragic  character. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  August  17th,  intelligence 
reached  Beverly  that  a  small  body  of  rebel  cavalry  had  crossed 
the  eastern  one  of  the  Alleghanian  ranges,  from  Pendleton 
County,  and,  having  collected  a  drove  of  beeves  from  the  farms 
of  resident  Unionists,  were  then  in  bivouac  in  Dry  Fork  Val 
ley,  distant  between  thirty  and  forty  miles ;  upon  which  an 


96  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

expedition  was  set  on  foot,  for  the  capture  of  this  force  and 
their  stolen  beeves,  consisting  of  one  hundred  men  from  the 
Sixth  Ohio  and  Second  Virginia,  under  command  of  Captain 
Clarke,  of  the  former.  Starting  at  nine  o'clock  the  same 
night,  the  detachment,  on  Sunday  morning,  fell  in  with  a  party 
of  Sixth  Ohio  scouts,  sent  out  two  days  before,  who  joined 
company  and  went  back  with  it.  Under  a  hard  rain,  the  men 
toiled  on  all  day  over  the  mountains,  following  narrow  ravines 
knee-deep  in  water ;  creeping,  with  painful  care,  along  bridle 
paths,  in  single  file ;  surrounded  by  trackless  forests  of  pine 
and  hemlock ;  and  almost  constantly  shut  in  by  a  dense,  im 
penetrable  growth  of  laurel  bushes.  Several  tributaries  of 
Cheat  River,  though  foaming  now  and  furious  from  the  rain, 
were  safely  crossed  by  various  expedients,  until,  late  in  the 
afternoon,  they  came  to  Laurel  Fork,  without  having  discov 
ered  any  signs  of  an  enemy.  The  foremost  of  the  party 
had  nearly  gained  the  further  bank,  when  a  sharp  and  sud 
den  volley  of  musketry  was  poured  into  them  from  the  thick 
ets  beyond,  instantly  killing  Corporal  Michael  Lee,  of  the 
Second  Virginia,  and  mortally  wounding  a  private  belonging 
to  the  same  regiment ;  at  the  same  time,  T.  C.  Tryon,  a  mem 
ber  of  Company  K,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  had  two  fingers  of  the 
left  hand  shot  off,  and  Thomas  was  shot  through  the  body 
above  the  hips,  notwithstanding  which  he  ran  across  the  river 
toward  the  enemy,  and  raised  his  gun  to  fire;  but  the  cap 
snapped,  and  he  fell  to  the  earth.  The  troops  quickly  re 
turned  the  volley  from  the  middle  of  the  stream  (probably 
without  effect),  and  continued  searching  for  the  guerrillas  un 
til  dark,  but  there  was  neither  sight  nor  further  sound  of 
any  other  human  beings  near.  Abruptly  terminated  by  this 
disaster,  the  expedition  next  day  returned  to  Beverly,  after 
hastily  burying  Thomas,  who  died  during  the  night,  in  the 


BEVERLY.  97 

same  grave  with  Corporal  Lee,  and  leaving  Tryon  and  the 
wounded  Virginian  at  a  solitary  log  cabin  among  the  mount 
ains.* 

On  the  22d  (the  Sixth  Ohio  having,  meantime,  made  a  march 
to  Huttonsville),  Hospital  Steward  West,  with  an  ambulance 
and  strong  escort,  was  dispatched  to  bring  back  the  wounded 
men;  he  found  the  Virginian  already  dead  and  buried,  but 
Tryon  was  doing  well,  and  seemed  overjoyed  at  the  sight  of 
friends.  In  order  to  save  a  tedious  detour  at  one  point  on  the 
homeward  march,  the  guards  were  induced  to  leave  the  road 
for  a  short  distance,  having  met  no  signs  of  bushwhackers 
all  day,  but  scarcely  were  they  out  of  sight  when  the  ambu 
lance  was  fired  into ;  one  of  the  horses  fell  dead,  the  driver 
was  shot  through  the  arm,  and  Tryon  sprang  out  and  scram 
bled  into  the  laurel  bushes,  swam  Cheat  River  twice,  aiid 
found  his  way  back  to  camp  on  foot.  Alarmed  by  the  firing, 
the  guards  hastened  to  the  spot,  but  could  not  find  any  enemy. 
That  night  a  force  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  went  out, 
under  command  of  the  major  of  the  Second  Virginia,  to  beat 
up  these  outlaws  in  their  own  lair,  and  punish  them  as 
they  deserved.  It  penetrated  eight  miles  further  east  than 
any  previous  expedition  had  done,  burnt  down  the  houses  of 
two  or  three  notorious  rebels,  and  was  fired  into,  on  its  re 
turn,  though  without  receiving  any  damage.  The  fourteen 
crack  shots  who  were  left  behind,  in  ambush,  to  retaliate,  re 
turned  to  camp  two  days  later,  with  the  report  that  not  a  liv 
ing  soul  had  come  in  sight  in  all  that  time. 

During  its  sojourn  at  Beverly,  the  Sixth  Ohio  made  good 
progress  in  drill  and  discipline,  under  the  judicious  manage- 

*  A  graphic  letter  describing  this  expedition,  by  William  Reed  Bartlett, 
of  Company  B,  Sixth  Ohio,  was  published  in  the  Cincinnati  Times. 

7  — 


98  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

merit  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  and  was  kept  well 
provided  for  in  the  way  of  supplies.  For  a  short  time  after 
the  Carrick's  Ford  expedition,  many  of  the  men  suffered  con 
siderably  from  bowel  disorders,  but  Surgeon  Loving  was  as 
siduous  in  his  labors  to  improve  the  sanitary  condition  of  the 
regiment,  and  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  the  sick  rate 
greatly  reduced ;  so  that,  before  its  removal  to  Elkwater,  the 
Sixth  Ohio  had  become  what  it  remained  to  the  last  day  of 
its  service,  namely,  one  of  the  most  healthy  commands,  if  not 
the  very  healthiest,  in  the  Union  army.  Changes  began  early 
among  the  commissioned  officers.  On  the  3d  of  August,  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  Donovan,  of  Company  A,  was  promoted  to  First 
Lieutenant,  and  transferred  to  Company  E,  vice  Lieutenant  Hoy, 
previously  discharged  for  physical  disability.  Sergeant-Major 
William  P.  Anderson  was  subsequently  promoted  to  the  Sec 
ond  Lieutenancy  thus  vacated,  and  detailed  for  duty  on  Gen 
eral  Reynolds'  staif,  being  replaced  in  the  former  position  by 
the  genial  and  universally  popular  "Sherry" — Orderly-Ser 
geant  William  E.  Sheridan,  of  Company  F. 

Meanwhile,  the  enemy's  attitude  was  becoming  more  and 
more  threatening  in  front  of  the  Cheat  Mountain  Gaps ;  and, 
although  such  a  strengthening  of  those  positions  as  the  aspect 
of  affairs  demanded  was  not  possible,  with  the  comparatively 
small  force  at  his  diposal,  General  Rosecrans  managed  to  re- 
enforce  Reynolds'  brigade,  about  the  middle  of  August,  with 
the  Seventeenth  Indiana,  the  Twenty-fourth  and  Twenty-fifth 
Ohio  Regiments,  and  one  or  two  batteries  of  artillery,  all  of 
which  were  promptly  moved  to  the  front.  An  attack  upon  his 
pickets,  on  the  night  of  August  19th,  led  General  Reynolds  to 
believe  that  Lee's  entire  army  was  on  foot,  and  orders  were 
immediately  telegraphed  Colonel  Bosley  to  hasten  forward  the 


BEVERLY.  99 

Sixth  Ohio.  Taps  had  beaten,  and  the  regiment  was  settling 
down  into  the  quiet  of  slumber,  when  it  was  roused  by  the 
hurried  command  to  fall  in  for  a  march  to  the  front.  It  was 
a  dark  night,  and  the  road,  although  a  passably  good  Virginia 
turnpike,  wras  very  heavy,  from  the  effects  of  late  rains,  not  to 
mention  the  ponds  of  water  which  the  troops  encountered  almost 
every  mile,  some  of  thern,  more  than  knee-deep.  Between  two 
and  three  o'clock,  after  marching  for  two  hours  in  the  midst  of  a 
tremendous  thunder-storm,  the  regiment  reached  Mill  Creek, 
a  swift  little  stream  about  two  miles  from  Huttonsville,  and 
there  rested  till  morning,  word  having  come  that  the  flood  had 
swept  away  the  new  bridge  over  the  Tygart's  Valley  River, 
without  which,  crossing  was  simply  impossible.  In  their  wet 
and  bedrabbled  condition,  the  men  were  soon  chilled  through ; 
fires  were,  nevertheless,  forbidden,  as  being  unsafe,  so  long  as 
the  enemy's  movements  remained  undeveloped.  As  soon  as 
day  dawned,  however,  groups  of  numb  and  shivering  wretches 
began  drying  themselves  before  glorious  bonfires,  and,  after  a 
good  breakfast,  all  were  ready  to  resume  the  march  on  what 
was  now  a  beautifully  bright  morning.  Passing  through  the 
straggling  little  hamlet  of  Huttonsville,  the  regiment  halted 
on  the  banks  of  the  Tygart's  Valley  River,  where  it  lay  all 
that  day  and  night,  awaiting  orders  and  looking  eagerly  toward 
the  head-quarters  flag,  floating  from  a  tree-top  over  the  camp 
at  "the  Pass,"  somewhat  less  than  half-way  to  the  Summit; 
but  as  the  supposed  emergency  which  summoned  it  from  Beverly 
had  passed  away,  on  the  next  day  it  returned  to  its  old  quarters. 
On  the  24th  of  August,  detachments  of  the  Ninth  and 
Twenty-third  Ohio  passed  through  Beverly,  and  there  were 
many  pleasant  reunions  between  members  of  the  Sixth  and  old 
friends  in  those  commands.  New  friends,  but  fast  ones,  were 
soon  to  be  found  among  comrades  at  Elkwater. 


100  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTEE   VIII. 

TO    ELKWATER. 

(AUGUST  29-SEPTEMBER  9,  1861.) 

ON  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  August  29th,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  received  orders  to  break  camp,  and  move  to  the 
front,  at  Elk  water,  where  another  alarm  had  occurred;  upon 
which  the  pickets  and  other  outlying  guards  were  immediately 
relieved  by  details  from  the  Second  Virginia,  two  days7  rations 
were  distributed,  and  about  half  past  four  o'clock  the  regiment 
started,  under  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson, 
Colonel  Bosley  remaining  at  Beverly  as  commandant  of  the 
post,  with  Lieutenant  Henry  McAlpin,  of  Company  A,  as 
Post  Adjutant.  Company  D  was  still  at  Leedsville;  Captain 
Tatern  was  no  longer  with  it,  however,  but  lay  the  victim  of 
a  raging  fever  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Arnold,*  in  Beverly,  occu 
pying  the  same  apartment  with  Adjutant  Heron,  who  had 
also  been  stricken  down  by  the  same  disease.  It  was  eighteen 

*  This  lady,  although  a  sister  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  merits  an  honor 
able  place  among  the  noble  characters  whose  loyalty  and  self-sacrifice 
almost  redeems  the  local  history  of  many  a  doubtful  border  district  during 
the  rebellion.  After  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  from  the  Cheat  Mount 
ain  region,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold  were  more  than  once  made  to  feel  the 
weight  of  rebel  vengeance,  in  the  devastation  of  their  property  about 
Beverly,  and  other  outrages,  which  finally  obliged  them  to  remove  within 


TO   ELK  WATER.  101 

miles  to  Elkwater,  over  a  road  in  no  better  condition  than 
when  the  regiment  marched  to  Huttonsville,  ten  days  before ; 
and  that  night  there  was  no  moon  till  late,  the  sky  meanwhile 
remaining  overcast  and  threatening.  On  reaching  Mill  Creek, 
between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  a  halt  was  called  to  allow  the 
men  to  get  supper.  Gladly  would  they  have  bivouacked  there, 
but,  for  the  sake  of  the  comrades  who  might  be  in  peril,  the 
column  again  pushed  forward — slipping,  stumbling,  groping 
in  the  darkness,  yet  in  good  heart  and  well  closed  up.  At 
length  the  moon  rose  over  Cheat  Mountain,  the  clouds  rolled 
away,  and  the  last  three  miles  of  the  march  were  made  more 
comfortably,  the  regiment  reaching  Elkwater  about  2  A.  M. 
Not  a  single  tent  had  been  brought  along  from  Beverly,  but, 
fortunately,  the  left  wing  of  the  Ninth  Ohio  (under  marching 
orders  to  rejoin  the  right  wing  elsewhere),  when  it  departed 
on  the  previous  morning,  had  allowed  its  tents  to  remain 
standing,  and,  taking  possession  of  these,  the  men  slept  soundly 
until  awakened  by  the  next  day's  sunrise. 

During  the  forenoon  the  tents  of  the  friendly  Ninth  were 
packed  up  and  sent  after  their  owners,  and  as  those  of  the 
Sixth  did  not  arrive,  the  men  were  driven  to  such  makeshifts 
as  their  ingenuity  could  devise  for  shelter,  first  \from  the- 
scorching  sun,  and  then  from  the  cold,  drizzling  rain  with 
which  the  day  closed.  A  dreary  night  followed,  officers  shar 
ing  equally  with  the  men  in  all  its  discomforts.  On  Saturday 
morning  a  detail  of  one  hundred  men,  with  a  suitable  comple- 

the  lines  of  permanent  Union  occupation.  Mrs.  Arnold's  ministrations 
among  the  sick  and  wounded  at  Beverly  were  such  as  only  a  true- 
hearted  woman  knows  how  to  offer — such  as  they  who  receive  them  can 
never  forget  Captain  Tatem,  in  a  letter  to  the  Cincinnati'  Enquirer, 
dated  September  15th,  did  honor  to  himself  by  referring  to  >  them,  as -they 
deserved. 


102  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ment  of  officers,  was  made  from  Companies  B  and  K  to  work 
upon  the  fortifications.  It  returned  in  the  evening  to  find  the 
regimental  equipage  all  come  up,  and  camp  pitched  in  a  beau 
tiful  maple  grove  close  upon  the  banks  of  Elkwater;  but  the 
other,  companies  were  not  there,  having  been  sent  out  imme 
diately  after  dinner  to  relieve  an  Indiana  regiment  on  picket 
duty  at  Brady's  Gate,  ten  miles  toward  the  enemy,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Anderson  leading  the  way  on  foot. 

In  order  to  clearly  understand  the  eventful  campaign  upon 
which  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  now  fairly  entered,  it  will  be  neces 
sary  to  take  a  somewhat  careful  survey  of  its  surroundings. 

Nature  has  relieved  the  wild  and  rugged  aspect  of  the  Cheat 
Mountain  region — a  veritable  terra  incognita  to  the  Union 
forces  which  first  occupied  it — by  two  or  three  beautiful  little 
valleys ;  and  to  these  the  efforts  of  man  have  added  some  traces 
of  civilization  along  the  two  highways  into  which  the  turnpike 
from  Grafton  subdivides  at  Huttonsville.  One  of  these  high 
ways,  climbing  the  Cheat  Mountain  range,  deflects  south-east- 
wardly  toward  Staunton;  the  other  continues  in  a  general 
direction  nearly  due  south  to  Hunters ville,  the  seat  of  justice 
for  Pocahontas  County,  and  at  the  period  under  consideration 
the  chief  depot  of  supplies  for  Lee's  army. 

After  as  thorough  an  examination  of  the  country  as  was 
then  possible,  General  Reynolds  became  satisfied  that  Hut- 
.  tons  ville,  or  its  immediate  vicinity  (at  the  junction  of  the  two 
roads  above  mentioned),  was  the  proper  station  for  any  force 
that  purposed  defending  the  territory  wrested  from  the  rebels 
in  the  Rich  Mountain  campaign,  and  preventing  the  enemy's 
march  down  the  valley  toward  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail 
road.  But  General  McClellan  had  already  posted  the  Four 
teenth  Indiana  and  a  few  cavalrymen  upon  the  summit  of 


TO    ELK  WATER.  103 

Cheat  Mountain,  a  day's  march  beyond,  on  the  Staunton 
turnpike,  and  had  caused  extensive  fortifications  there  to  be 
commenced.  To  abandon  this  position  would  have  had  the 
appearance  of  a  retrograde  movement,  discouraging  to  the 
Union  sentiment  of  Western  Virginia,  if  not  to  the  entire 
North,  and  must  have  proved  not  a  little  distasteful  to  the 
victors  of  Rich  Mountain  and  Laurel  Hill.  For  these  reasons* 
General  Reynolds  decided  to  retain  the  advanced  post  at  the 
Summit,  and  at  the  same  time  to  establish  another  camp  on 
the  Huntersville  turnpike,  at  Stalnaker's,  a  short  distance  above 
the  place  where  the  Tygart's  Valley  River  receives  its  tribu 
tary,  Elkwater  Fork — Colonel  Nathan  Kimball,  of  the  Four 
teenth  Indiana,  commanding  at  the  former,  and  Colonel  George 
D.  Wagner,  of  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  at  Elkwater.  Brigade 
head-quarters  were  situated  at  the  Pass,  so-called,  at  the  base 
of  Cheat  Mountain,  not  quite  one-third  of  the  distance  from 
Huttonsville  to  the  Summit,  which,  in  all,  is  about  thirteen 
miles. 

Between  Elkwater  and  the  Summit  there  was  at  first  no 
other  means  of  passage  than  the  route  along  the  turnpikes,  by 
way  of  Huttonsville  and  the  Pass.  The  two  roads,  in  fact, 
form  the  sides  of  a  triangle,  of  which  the  points  were  Huttons 
ville  and  the  two  camps — Elkwater,  however,  being  not  more 
than  half  as  far  from  Huttonsville  as  Cheat  Mountain  Summit 
is.  Greater  facility  of  communication  was  soon  obtained  by 
cutting  a  path  through  the  woods,  which  intersected  both 
turnpikes  at  no  great  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  camps,  and 
which,  although  impassable  for  wagons  or  artillery,  proved  a 
great  convenience  to  the  infantry,  and  was  especially  valuable 
as  affording  a  means  of  promptly  reenforcing  one  camp  from 

*  The  writer's  authority  for  this  statement  is  General  Reynolds  himself. 


104  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

the  other  in  case  of  a  sudden  attack.  The  front  between  Elk- 
water  and  the  Summit  was,  perhaps,  eight  miles,  as  a  bird 
would  fly;  but  such  is  the  broken  nature  of  the  country  that 
it  was  barely  practicable  to  connect  the  two  camps  by  so  much 
as  a  chain  of  outposts.  Every  exertion  was  used  to  fortify  the 
advanced  positions  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  in  directing  this 
labor  very  valuable  service  was  rendered  by  Lieutenants  Mer 
rill  and  Bowen,  young  officers  of  the  Topographical  Engineers, 
then  serving  on  General  Reynolds'  staff. 

The  Elkwater  defenses  were  planned  with  great  care.  It 
was  an  admirably  chosen  position.  Bold  spurs  of  Cheat 
Mountain  (of  which  that  known  to  the  troops  as  Elkwater 
Peak  is  the  highest)  here  jut  out  toward  the  Rich  Mountain 
range,  leaving  between  the  opposing  steeps  a  vale,  scarcely  one- 
third  of  a  mile  in  width,  that  affords  outlet  for  the  Elkwater 
and  a  convenient  passage  for  the  Huntersville  turnpike.  For 
miles  back  from  this  valley,  in  each  direction,  the  country  is 
rugged  and  mountainous — a  wooded  wilderness,  with  only  here 
and  there  a  little  clearing  hewn  out  from  the  forest,  to  give 
scant  room  for  the  inevitable  log-cabin  and  its  "  patch "  of 
ground  for  corn  or  potatoes.  The  turnpike  winds  along  at  the 
very  foot  of  the  hills  which  form  the  outlying  sentinels  of  Rich 
Mountain,  while  Elkwater  Fork  runs  close  under  the  shadows 
of  the  Peak  and  neighboring  heights.  Between  the  river  and 
the  road  lay  a  beautiful  meadow,  which  was  traversed  by  for 
midable  earthworks,  consisting  of  a  regular  parapet,  with  a 
ditch  in  front,  and  embrasures  at  favorable  points  for  artillery. 
On  the  further  side  of  Elkwater,  and  a  few  yards  in  advance 
of  the  earthworks,  was  "  Rich  Mountain  Battery,"  half-hidden 
in  the  shadows  of  the  forest  rising  behind  and  above  it,  and  so 
located  that  its  cannon  could  sweep  the  meadow  in  front  of  the 
parapet  and  enfilade  the  ditch.  There  were  log  breastworks  on 


TO    ELK  WATER.  105 

the  Peak  also,  but  this  elevation  was  so  nearly  inaccessible  that 
it  was  regarded  rather  as  a  post  of  observation  than  a  part  of 
the  line  to  be  defended.  The  hill-sides  across  the  valley  (on 
the  Rich  Mountain  side)  were  fortified  with  greater  care,  how 
ever,  by  means  of  rude  redans  or  open  field-works,  composed 
of  logs  and  filled  in  with  earth  and  stones.  These  were  the 
works  upon  which  the  Sixth  Ohio  chiefly  expended  its  energies. 
"  Fort  Marrow,"  situated  upon  a  hill  above  the  turnpike,  com 
manded  a  suspicious-looking  ravine  leading  into  camp  from 
the  westward,  and  was  now  garrisoned  by  Company  A,  of  the 
Third  Ohio,  to  which  was  afterward  added  a  small  detach 
ment  of  Loomis'  artillery.  Acres  of  forests,  covering  the  hill 
side  on  either  hand,  were  felled  in  the  construction  of  breast 
works  and  in  clearing  away  what  might  prove  a  cover  to  the 
enemy ;  and  altogether,  it  was  evident  that,  while  still  not  com 
plete,  the  defenses  had  cost  no  small  expenditure  of  brawn  and 
muscle  by  the  troops  who  had  preceded  the  Sixth  Ohio  to 
Elkwater. 

Those  troops  were  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  Colonel  Wagner ; 
the  Third  Ohio,  Colonel  Isaac  H.  Marrow,  of  Columbus ;  the 
Seventeenth  Indiana,  Colonel  Milo  S.  Hascall;  the  Coldwater 
(Michigan)  Battery,  Captain  C.  O.  Loomis;  and,  possibly,  one 
or  two  inconsiderable  detachments  from  other  commands.  The 
cordial  welcome  which  the  Third  Ohio,  especially,  gave  the 
Sixth  led  to  a  firm  and  lasting  friendship  between  the  two 
regiments.  Colonel  KimbalPs  forces  on  the  Summit  consisted 
of  his  own  splendid  regiment,  the  Fourteenth  Indiana ;  the 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Colonel  Jacob  Ammen ;  the  Twenty-fifth 
Ohio,  Colonel  James  A.  Jones ;  Daum's  Wheeling  Battery,  and 
a  detachment  of  Bracken's  cavalry.  At  the  Pass,  in  addition 
to  General  Reynolds'  cavalry  escort,  were  Colonel  Jeremiah  C. 
Sullivan's  Thirteenth  Indiana,  and  a  section  of  artillery. 


106  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

The  camp  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  not  quite  so  close  to  the 
intrenchments  as  might  have  been  desired,  yet  as  near  them  as 
was  possible  under  the  most  liberal  construction  of  General 
Reynolds'  orders,  which  were  for  the  regiment  to  take  position 
between  Huttonsville  and  Elkwater.  A  high  and  almost  pre 
cipitous  hill  frowned  down  upon  it  on  the  right.  Across  the 
river,  to  the  left,  was  a  fertile  stretch  of  bottom-land,  forming 
"  Crouch's  farm/'  which  figures  so  conspicuously  in  rebel  de 
scriptions  of  the  Union  stronghold  at  Cheat  Mountain.  The 
house  of  'Squire  Stalnaker* — a  name  and  fame  never  to  be 
forgotten  by  any  campaigner  at  Elkwater — was  situated  be 
tween  the  camp  of  the  Sixth  and  that  of  the  Third  Ohio,  with 
the  Indiana  camps  and  the  breastworks  still  further  beyond. 

Brady's  Gate,  the  advanced  picket  station  to  which,  as  before 
mentioned,  seven  companies  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  ordered 
on  the  last  day  of  August,  was  not  situated  directly  on  the 
Huntersville  road,  but  somewhat  to  the  right  of  it,  upon  an 
old  turpike,  abandoned  several  years  before,  that  led  off  toward 
Point  Mountain.  The  usual  and  most  direct  route  to  the 
Gate  was  by  a  rough  wagon  path  up  Elkwater  Run,  a  brawl 
ing  mountain  stream  which  crosses  the  turnpike  rather  more 
than  a  mile  beyond  where  the  breastworks  were,  and  empties 
into  Elkwater  Fork  a  few  yards  to  the  left  of  the  road,  and 
nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  Stewart's  Run.  Point  Mountain 
had  been  strongly  picketed  by  Union  troops  for  some  time 
past,  the  practice  being  to  send  out  an  entire  regiment,  and 
relieve  it  every  three  or  four  days  by  another  from  camp. 
From  this  commanding  position  the  men  of  the  Sixth  Ohio 
could  see  great  numbers  of  rebel  pickets  running  about,  with 

*  A  very  common  name  in  several  of  the  mountain  counties  of  West 
Virginia.  The  map  of  Virginia,  originally  published  in  Jefferson's 
Notes,  spells  it  u  Sthalmaker." 


TO    ELK  WATER.  107 

no  apparent  effort  at  concealment,  in  the  vale  below  and  on 
the  slopes  beyond.  The  enemy's  main  camp,  though  hidden 
behind  intervening  hills,  was  known  to  be  not  far  distant,  and 
on  a  clear  day  the  cloud  of  dim  blue  smoke  from  its  thousands 
of  fires  was  easily  discernible.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson's 
detachment  remained  at  Point  Mountain,  keeping  a  watchful 
eye  upon  every  movement  along  the  enemy's  outposts,  for  four 
days,  when  it  was  relieved  by  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  and,  in 
the  midst  of  a  drenching  rain,  returned  to  Elkwater.  A  sup 
ply  of  old  United  States  muskets,  rifled  by  Miles  Greenwood, 
of  Cincinnati,  and  designed  to  replace  the  smooth-bore  Spring 
field  muskets  issued  the  eight  interior  companies  at  Camp 
Dennison,  awaited  the  men  at  camp,  and  the  exchange  was 
accordingly  effected  next  day,  calling  forth  many  expressions 
of  gratitude  toward  Mr.  Larz  Anderson,  to  whose  exertions 
the  regiment  was  largely  indebted  for  its  superior  armament. 
Compared  with  the  Enfield  rifles,  with  which  the  flanking 
companies  were  armed,  the  Greenwood  rifled  muskets — caliber 
.69 — were  rather  cumbrous  and  homely  in  appearance,  but 
nevertheless  proved  serviceable  and  efficient  weapons. 

Companies  B  and  K,  which  had  meanwhile  continued  busily 
at  work  upon  the  breastworks,  on  the  evening  of  September 
4th,  received  marching  orders.  Proceeding  next  morning  to 
the  camp  of  the  Third  Ohio,  they  fell  in  behind  Companies  A 
and  H,  of  that  regiment,  and  the  whole  force,  under  Captain 
O.  A.  Lawson,  immediately  started,  with  the  object  of  break 
ing  up  a  camp  of  bushwhackers  among  the  mountains,  some 
where  in  the  vicinity  of  Bulltown,  in  Braxton  County.  As 
the  country  to  be  passed  over  was  as  wild  as  the  scouting 
grounds  east  of  Beverly,  and  almost  equally  broken,  the  or 
dinary  means  of  transportation,  of  course,  were  unavailable; 
two  days'  rations,  therefore,  were  stowed  in  the  men's  haver- 


108  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

sacks,  while  a  couple  of  sorry-looking  pack-horses  carried 
provisions  for  two  days  more.  For  several  miles  the  party 
followed  the  windings  of  Elkwater  Run  (which  they  forded 
twenty-three  times  in  all),  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  rain  that 
had  begun  falling  twenty-four  hours  before.  Shortly  after  the 
brief  halt  for  dinner,  the  main  party  left  the  valley,  and  took 
a  bridle-path,  which,  with  its  opening  concealed  by  laurel 
bushes,  struck  abruptly  off  to  the  right  over  the  mountains. 
Lieutenant  Russell,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  who  had  been  placed 
in  charge  of  the  "  provision  train/'  was  delayed  a  few  minutes 
in  re-adjusting  the  badly-packed  load  which  one  of  the  animals 
carried,  and,  missing  the  trail,  continued  up  the  Run  toward 
Brady's  Gate,  where  the  mistake  was  discovered,  but  too  late 
to  think  of  overtaking  the  expedition  that  night ;  and,  finally, 
after  a  stay  of  thirty-eight  hours  with  the  pickets  at  the  Gate, 
Lieutenant  Russell  and  his  little  squad  of  five  men  returned 
to  camp.  His  absence  caused  the  main  party  half  a  day's  de 
lay,  and  not  a  little  uneasiness.  As  the  sequel  proved,  how 
ever,  nothing  would  have  been  lost  and  much  hard  marching 
saved,  had  it  occasioned  the  total  abandonment  of  the  expedi 
tion  ;  for,  when  they  halted  at  dark  on  the  second  day  out,  the 
men  learned  with  chagrin  that  the  work  they  came  to  perform 
had  already  been  done  by  a  small  party  sent  out  from  Buck- 
hannon.  Entirely  out  of  rations,  the  troops  next  morning 
headed  for  Elkwater,  and,  by  dint  of  terrible  marching,  suc 
ceeded  in  reaching  it  about  eleven  o'clock  that  night.  Many 
amusing  incidents  occurred  upon  the  "Bulltown  scout."  At 
one  house,  on  the  mountains,  near  which  the  expedition  stopped 
to  rest,  a  woman  of  middle  age  came  out  who  had  never  seen 
an  American  flag.  Captain  Clarke  bade  her  bring  out  the 
whole  family,  a  numerous  race  of  tow-headed  fledgelings; 
which  done,  he  had  the  flag  unfurled  with  all  the  dramatic 


TO   ELK  WATER.  109 

accessories  which  the  occasion  could  afford,  greatly  to  the 
wonder  and  delight  of  the  unsophisticated  female  and  her 
brood. 

On  the  same  night  that  the  Bulltown  expeditionists  were 
painfully  picking  their  homeward  way,  in  perfect  darkness, 
through  the  mountain  solitudes,  a  detail  of  fifty  men  from  the 
Sixth  Ohio  was  groping,  rather  than  marching,  to  the  picket 
stations,  four  miles  or  more  up  Stewart's  Run,  whither  it  had 
been  ordered  to  relieve  a  detachment  from  one  of  the  Indiana 
regiments.  It  was  originally  composed  of  men  from  two  or 
three  different  companies,  of  which  Company  I  was  one,  but 
nearly  the  whole  remaining  force  of  the  latter  being  sent  out 
a  day  or  two  later,  the  other  detachments  returned  to  camp. 
Stewart's  Run  is  a  tiny  tributary  of  Elkwater  Fork,  that 
wound  its  way  down  a  narrow  valley  running  along  the  front 
of  Elkwater  camp,  at  the  distance  of  somewhat  more  than  a 
mile  from  the  fortifications,  and  extending,  perhaps,  two-thirds 
of  the  distance  to  the  Summit,  eight  or  ten  miles  away.  Un 
fortunately,  no  definite  instructions  were  transmitted  Captain 
Bense,  who  had  charge  of  the  pickets,  nor  was  he  enabled  to 
obtain  any  accurate  information  regarding  the  topography  of 
the  country.  Scouts,  who  were  sent  out  next  day,  reported  no 
signs  of  an  enemy  immediately  in  front,  but  while  they  were 
gone  upon  a  second  expedition,*  Lee's  advance  cut  them  off 
from  Elkwater,  and  captured  Captain  Bense,  with  nearly  his 
entire  party. 

At  camp,  meanwhile,  the  labor  of  fortifying  went  on  vigor 
ously.  It  was  something  new  to  most  of  the  Sixth  Ohio, 
city  bred  and  accustomed  to  duties  of  quite  another  character ; 

*An  interesting  narrative  of  this  remarkable  scout  is  given  in  Part  II, 
in  the  chapter  entitled  "Cheat  Mountain  Campaigning." 


110  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

yet  there  was  no  repining.  The  men  jested  about  their  pioneer 
style  of  life,  and,  with  great  satisfaction,  beheld  their  strong 
hold  daily  growing  more  and  more  nearly  impregnable.  Com 
pany  D  rejoined  the  regiment  on  Monday,  the  9th.  The  time 
had  come  when  General  Reynolds  was  likely  to  need  every 
available  man  at  the  front. 


THE   DISCOMFITUKE   OF   LEE.  Ill 


CHAPTER    IX. 
THE    DISCOMFITURE    OF   LEE. 

(SEPTEMBER  9-17, 1861.) 

THE  beginning  of  the  second  week  in  September  found 
General  Lee's  advance  at  Marshall's  Store,  twelve  miles 
out  on  the  Huntersville  (or,  as  it  is  otherwise  termed,  the  Mar- 
lin)  turnpike,  and  only  four  miles  from  the  junction  of  the 
Point  Mountain  turnpike,  leading  off  to  Brady's  Gate  and 
beyond.  On  Monday,  the  9th,  a  reconnoissance,  tinder  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Richard  Owen,  of  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  de 
veloped  the  enemy  in  considerable  numbers  a  mile  before 
reaching  the  Store,  and  some  sharp  skirmishing  ensued,  after 
which  the  Union  forces  leisurely  returned  to  Elk  water.  About 
eleven  o'clock,  on  Wednesday,  the  llth,  a  wet  and  dreary  day, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  received  orders  to  hurry  two  ad 
ditional  companies  out  the  turnpike,  in  the  direction  whither 
Captain  Erwin's  E  and  another  company  had  already  been  dis 
patched,  under  Major  Christopher.  The  facts  were  that  Colo 
nel  Hascall's  regiment  had  been  attacked  that  morning  on 
Point  Mountain,  and  at  that  hour  was  retreating  before  over 
powering  numbers  down  Elkwater  Run.  A  little  later,  the 
head  of  Lee's  main  column  had  struck  Companies  D  and  F, 
of  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  posted  at  the  Point  Mountain  junc 
tion,  under  Captain  Templeton,  and,  after  shooting  down  one- 


112  THE   STOEY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

half  of  the  little  party  upon  the  first  picket-post,  was  forcing 
them  back  upon  Major  Christopher's  supports,  at  Conrad's 
Mill,  two  miles  nearer  camp  and  about  six  miles  from  the 
breastworks.  The  rebel  column  was  steadily  pushing  down  the 
valley  and  closing  in  upon  Elkwater. 

Long-roll  was  soon  beating,  and,  .with  no  time  for  inquiry, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  hastened  to  get  the  residue  of 
the  regiment  into  the  trenches;  before  wThich  disposition  was 
completed,  however,  Companies  D  and  B — the  latter  strength 
ened  by  a  detail  of  twenty  men  from  Company  A — were  far 
beyond  the  breastworks.  Arrived  at  the  Ford — the  point 
where  Elkwater  Run  crossed  the  turnpike,  more  than  a  mile 
in  advance  of  the  fortifications — Company  D,  under  Lieutenant 
Parker,  crossed  Elkwater  Fork  and  moved  up  Stewart's  Run, 
to  the  support  of  Company  Fs  pickets,  who  were  still  on  duty 
far  up  the  ravine.  While  Company  B,  meantime,  was  waiting 
at  the  Ford  for  orders,  a  body  of  pickets,  and  with  them  Major 
Christopher's  detachment,  filed  moodily  by,  on  their  return  to 
camp,  and  soon  afterward  an  ambulance  came  back  with  a 
precious  freight  of  wounded.  In  conjunction  with  Company 
H,  of  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  it  was  finally  ordered  to  picket 
the  turnpike,  which  was  promptly  done,  the  outposts  extend 
ing  more  than  half  way  to  Conrad's  Mill,  or  to  within  rifle 
shot  of  those  of  the  enemy. 

While  the  main  body  of  General  Lee's  army  was  cautiously 
feeling  its  way  down  the  valley  to  Conrad's,  where,  at  an  early 
hour,  it  went  into  bivouac  for  the  night,  General  Anderson's 
brigade  of  Tennesseeans,  after  leaving  the  column  in  the  morn 
ing,  moved  rapidly  to  the  head  of  Stewart's  Run,  shot  down 
two  of  Captain  Bense's  pickets,  and  surrounded  and  captured 
nearly  all  the  rest,  including  that  officer,  and  Lieutenants  Gil- 
man  and  Schieffer,  who  were  on  duty  with  him.  Counter- 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  113 

marching  up  the  Run,  it  then  toiled  along  the  defiles  and  over 
the  spurs  of  Cheat  Mountain,  through  a  rugged  and  all  but 
impenetrable  wilderness,  toward  a  point  between  Elkwater  and 
the  Summit,  at  which  it  was  to  unite  with  several  regiments,* 
detached  from  the  forces  of  General  H.  R.  Jackson,  who  had 
moved  his  command  close  up  to  the  pickets  on  the  Staunton 
turnpike,  and  was  threatening  Kimball's  front.  Upon  the  re 
sult  of  this  movement  depended  Lee's  whole  plan  of  campaign, 
and  all  the  high  hopes  which  had  been  excited  in  the  breasts 
of  his  officers,  together  with  the  sanguine  expectations  of  the 
cabinet  at  Richmond.  Strengthened  by  the  cooperative  brigade 
sent  him  by  Jackson,  Anderson  was  to  seize  and  hold  the 
Staunton  turnpike,  in  rear  of  the  Summit,  thus  completing  the 
investment  of  that  stronghold;  in  addition  to  which,  as  it 
would  seem,  he  was  to  make  a  real  or  feint  attack  upon  the 
fortifications.  The  sound  of  Anderson's  guns  had  been  agreed 
upon  as  the  signal  for  Lee  to  hurl  his  masses  upon  Elkwater, 
and  crush  its  unsupported  garrison,  of  half  a  brigade,  at  one 
blow.  Succeeding  in  that  endeavor,  as  it  was  almost  impos 
sible  not  to  do,  Kimball  could  readily  be  brought  to  terms, 
leaving  an  unobstructed  passage  down  the  valley  to  Grafton ; 
Rosecrans,  instead  of  pressing  Floyd  in  the  Gauley  region, 
would  be  forced  to  a  right-about,  in  hot  haste,  for  the  banks 
of  the  Ohio;  and,  before  snow  should  fall,  the  conquest  of  West 
ern  Virginia  would  be  an  accomplished  fact.  Truly,  these 
were  great  expectations;  yet  to  count  upon  the  success  of  at 
least  the  first  steps  to  their  realization,  was  by  no  means  ex 
travagant,  since  not  only  did  Lee's  army,  of  above  twelve  thou- 

*  These  were  the  Third  Arkansas,  Twenty-third,  Thirty-first  and  Thirty- 
seventh  Virginia  Kegiments,  and  two  battalions  of  Virginia  troops — in  all, 
about  2,500  men. 
8 


114  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

sand  effective  men,  outnumber  Reynolds'  forces  more  than  two 
to  one,  but  the  rebel  commander  was  confident  of  turning  to 
good  account  the  subdivision  of  the  latter,*  in  much  the  same 
way  as  that  by  which  McClellan  had  defeated  Garnett  in  the 
Eich  Mountain  campaign. 

Scarcely  had  General  Anderson's  brigade,  by  herculean  ex 
ertions,  gained  the  desired  point  on  the  Staunton  turnpike, 
when  night  closed  in,  dark  and  rainy;  but,  though  few  of 
those  wet  and  weary  troops  could  have  retraced  their  route 
over  the  pathless  steeps,  they  were  all  there,  secreted  in  the 
dense  forest,  and  ready  to  strike  the  premeditated  blow  on  Kirn- 
ball's  rear.  Peering  through  the  gloom,  they  could  descry  the 
camp-fires  at  Elkwater,  four  miles  or  more  away  toward  their 
left  and  rear ;  facing  in  the  opposite  direction  they  found  them 
selves  confronting  Kimball's  pickets,  who  did  not  discover  their 
proximity,  however,  until  next  morning,  such  was  the  extreme 
caution  which  characterized  their  movements.  Up  to  this  point, 
the  execution  of  Lee's  plans  had  been  perfectly  successful  in  all 
essential  particulars. 

Meanwhile,  the  Union  pickets  on  the  front  of  Elkwater  had 
been  re-posted  as  night  came  on,  the  better  to  guard  against 
surprise,  and  about  an  hour  later  two  companies  of  the  Third 
Ohio  came  up  and  took  their  station  in  a  narrow  belt  of  timber 

*  Pollard  says:  "General  Lee  was  confident  that  he  would  be  able,  by- 
strategic  movements,  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  his  stronghold,  capture 
his  forces,  and  then  march  his  victorious  army  into  the  heart  of  North 
western  Virginia,  releasing  the  people  there  from  the  fetters  with  which, 
for  two  months,  they  had  been  bound.  The  prospect  of  such  a  conquest 

of  the  enemy  was  eminently  pleasant General  Lee's 

plan,  finished  drawings  of  which  were  sent  to  the  War  Department,  at 
Richmond,  was  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  laid  schemes  that  ever 
illustrated  the  consummation  of  t#e  rules  of  strategy,  or  ever  went  awry 
on  account  of  practical  failures  in  its  execution." 


THE   DISCOMFITUEE   OF   LEE.  115 

crowning  the  hill  immediately  to  the  left  of  the  Ford,  and 
upon  the  further  bank  of  Elkwater  Fork — an  important  posi 
tion  in  the  advanced  line  of  the  Elkwater  defenses  (that  at  the 
Ford),  as  it  commanded  perfectly  the  debouchure  of  Stewart's 
Run  and  the  approaches  down  the  Huntersville  turnpike.  It 
was  a  dreadfully  stormy  night,  without  sign  of  moon  or  star, 
but  it  passed  without  disturbance,  save  for  a  single  false  alarm 
which  occurred  about  nine  o'clock.  Toward  morning  the  rain 
ceased,  and  a  chilly  north-west  wind  sprang  up.  Sleepless  and 
shelterless,  the  pickets  waited  wearily  for  the  approach  of  day 
light  ;  at  last,  it  came — 

"Prime  cheerer,  Light, 
Of  all  material  things  the  first  and  best! " 

Never  was  dawn  more  welcome  than  it  was  to  the  guards 
who  stretched  their  shivering  forms  in  the  gray  light  of  that 
Thursday  morning,  September  12th,  and  then  by  turns  has 
tened  to  the  reserve  posts,  where  stubborn  fires  were  already 
beginning  to  smolder,  there  to  warm  and  dry  themselves — 
haply,  also,  to  boil  the  cup  of  coffee  that  each  so  much  needed. 
Contrary  to  all  expectation,  for  hours  no  stir  was  visible  be 
hind  the  rebel  picket-posts.  About  11  A.  M.,  however,  a 
squad  of  mounted  scouts  came  back  upon  the  gallop,  reporting 
the  rebel  columns  again  in  motion,  and  were  shortly  followed 
by  the  appearance  of  a  moving  mass  of  gray,  with  long  lines 
of  bright  steel  gleaming  in  the  sunshine,  and  five  brass  field- 
pieces  in  plain  sight.  The  outposts  were  immediately  called 
in,  and,  under  the  direction  of  Major  Keifer,  of  the  Third  Ohio, 
preparations  were  made  to  give  the  enemy  a  warm  reception 
should  he  attempt  to  force  the  position  at  the  Ford.  Company 
B,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  was  deployed  as  skirmishers  across  a 
meadow,  a  short  distance  in  front,  with  orders  for  the  men  to 


116  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

conceal  themselves  as  much  as  possible  by  lying  down  in  the 
weeds  and  tall  grass,  the  line  being  extended  on  the  right,  to 
ward  a  high  wooded  hill,  by  a  company  of  the  Seventeenth  In 
diana,  posted  behind  a  rail-fence,  while  other  companies  of  the 
same  command  were  picketing  Elkwater  Run.  Stewart's  Run, 
upon  the  other  flank,  was  still  held  by  Company  D,  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  and  the  hill-side  beyond  Elkwater  Fork  by  the  two  com 
panies  of  the  Third  Ohio. 

At  camp,  meanwhile,  long-roll  had  again  brought  the  troops 
to  the  fortifications,  soon  after  which  Companies  G  and  K, 
of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  were  sent  forward  on  a  reconnoissance ;  but 
Colonel  Marrow  (who  had  just  taken  command  at  the  Ford), 
considering  his  force  sufficiently  strong  without  them,  they  had 
barely  come  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  when  they  were  ordered  to 
return.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  before  the  regiments  at 
the  breastworks  were  dismissed  to  quarters. 

After  pushing  forward  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  Lee  had 
again  halted,  and,  while  he  waited  anxiously  for  the  signal 
guns  of  Anderson's  assault,  was  improving  the  time  in  recon- 
noitering ;  discovering  which  fact,  the  Union  pickets  cautiously 
advanced  and  began  a  bickering  combat  with  his  outposts. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  protection  aiforded  by  a  rail-fence, 
Orderly  Sergeant  Semple  and  a  few  men  of  Company  B,  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  crept  forward  some  distance,  and  were  annoying 
the  enemy  considerably  by  the  accuracy  of  their  fire,  when, 
suddenly,  a  company  clad  in  gray  appeared  upon  their  right 
flank,  within  most  beautiful  rifle  range,  and  moving  rapidly 
toward  them.  Some  of  the  men  raised  their  guns  to  fire,  but 
Sergeant  Semple  bade  them  desist,  until  they  were  sure  who  the 
party  were ;  since,  at  that  period,  the  Indiana  regiments  in  the 
brigade  all  wore  a  gray  uniform,  and  at  a  distance  could  easily 
be  mistaken  for  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  the  gray  coats  had 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  117 

gained  a  secure  shelter,  such  a  volley  was  poured  in  from 
thence  upon  them  as  speedily  removed  all  doubts,  but  some  of 
the  Seventeenth  Indiana  coming  up  from  another  direction  at 
this  juncture,  the  rebels  were  glad  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 
Another  party  of  the  Sixth,  which  had  succeeded  in  reaching 
an  apple  orchard  half  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  Ford,  was  par 
ticularly  attentive  to  a  pair  of  splendidly  mounted  officers,  who 
were  seen  riding  along  the  rebel  front  taking  observations 
with  a  field-glass.  Wheeling  their  horses  about,  they  quickly 
trotted  back  out  of  sight,  and  scarcely  had  they  done  so  when 
a  puff  of  blue  smoke  shot  up  from  behind  a  screen  of  bushes, 
and  a  shell  went  crashing  through  the  apple-trees  overhead. 
In  company  with  the  colonels  of  his  Elkwater  regiments, 
General  Reynolds,  just  arrived  from  head-quarters  at  the  Pass, 
was  at  that  moment  at  the  extreme  front,  reconnoitering  the 
enemy's  position.  Turning  to  an  orderly,  he  dispatched  a 
hurried  note  to  Captain  Loomis.  Delighted  to  receive  per 
mission  to  let  slip  the  dogs  of  war  under  his  charge,  that  of 
ficer  soon  had .  a  ten-pound  Parrott  unlimbering  at  the  Ford, 
and  began  hurling  shell  at  the  enemy,  who,  strangely  cautiousy 
made  no  reply. 

As  the  afternoon  waned,  it  became  evident  that  Lee  had 
given  up  all  intention  of  attacking  that  day.  Company  BV 
skirmishers  were  called  in,  and,  together  with  Company  D, 
which  had  come  down  Stewart's  Run  upon  the  double-quick, 
when  the  firing  at  the  Ford  broke  out,  was  ordered  into  posir 
tion  for  the  night  upon  the  hill-side,  where  one  company  of 
the  Third  Ohio  still  remained.  The  sun's  last  rays  had  just 
faded  from  the  neighboring  heights  when  the  troops  at  the  Ford 
heard  a  tremendous  cheering  from  the  direction  of  camp,  so  loud 
and  long-continued  that  the  rebels  must  have  heard  it  likewise 
and  wondered  at  its  meaning,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  horse- 


118  THE   STOEY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

man  was  seen  to  shoot  out  from  behind  the  intrenchments  and 
dash  along  the  turnpike  at  full  speed.  Almost  standing  up 
in  the  stirrups,  he  was  waving  his  hat  wildly  above  his  head — 
as  well  one  might  who  brought,  at  such  a  time,  intelligence  of 
victory :  Carnifex  Ferry  *  had  been  fought  and  won ! 

Inspiriting  though  these  tidings  were,  there  was  much  in  the 
attitude  of  affairs  immediately  around  Elkwater  to  occasion  anx 
iety.  All  communication  with  the  Summit  had  been  cut  off 
since  the  night  before ;  Lieutenant  Merrill,  riding  leisurely 
along  the  Staunton  turnpike,  had  been  captured  early  in  the 
morning,  only  a  short  distance  beyond  Colonel  Sullivan's 
pickets  from  the  Pass ;  large  bodies  of  the  enemy  were  known 
to  be  somewhere  among  the  mountains  between  the  Union 
camps ;  and  heavy  volleys  of  musketry  had  been  heard  at  dif 
ferent  times  from  the  direction  of  the  Summit,  with  what  sig 
nificance  could  only  be  surmised.  Satisfied,  however,  that 
Kimball,  within  his  mountain  fortress,  would  be  able  to  hold 
out  against  any  odds  the  enemy  could  direct  upon  him,  Gen 
eral  Reynolds  was  chiefly  concerned  lest  the  rebel  commander 
should  concentrate  his  forces  and  fall  at  once  on  Elkwater,  the 
left  flank  of  which  was  peculiarly  vulnerable.  But  the  Thir 
teenth  Indiana  was  resolutely  holding  the  Pass,  with  the  con- 

*  The  action  at  Carnifex  Ferry  was  fought  on  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday, 
September  10th,  Floyd  making  good  his  escape  during  the  night.  Rose- 
crans'  official  dispatch  to  the  War  Department  is  a  remarkably  plain  and 
matter-of-fact  document,  but  the  affair,  nevertheless,  received  such  a  col 
oring  from  newspaper  and  other  accounts  that  it  went  forth  to  the  coun 
try,  not  merely  as  a  tangible  success,  which  it  undoubtedly  was,  but  as  a 
victory  of  great  importance,  which  it  was  not,  in  any  point  of  view.  When 
the  first  news  of  Carnifex  reached  Elkwater,  it  was  speedily  subjected  to 
the  most  absurd  exaggeration — to  the  extent  even  that  Rosecrans  had 
captured  several  thousand  prisoners,  and  was  then  pressing  hard  on  the 
rear  of  Lee's  forces  in  front  of  Cheat  Mountain. 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  119 

siderable  reenforcement  of  the  Second  Virginia,  Colonel  Moss 
commanding,  on  its  way  thither,  by  a  forced  night  march  from 
Beverly.  At  whatever  cost,  the  Cheat  Mountain  Gaps  were 
to  be  held.  The  alternative  of  retreat  was  a  thought  which 
no  officer  or  man  of  Reynolds7  little  division  entertained  for 
a  moment. 

Night  folded  the  beleaguered  camp  under  her  peaceful 
wing.  At  the  Ford,  pickets  had  been  carefully  posted,  and 
the  supports  on  the  hill-side,  worn  by  the  loss  of  the  previous 
night's  rest,  early  lay  down  under  the  trees  and  slept  undis 
turbed.  In  camp  the  day  had  been  well-nigh  as  busy  and 
exciting  as  at  the  front.  Quartermasters  had  packed  their 
stores  in  readiness  for  immediate  transportation  ;  hospital  tents 
and  supplies,  with  ambulances  along-side,  were  moved  up 
nearer  the  scene  of  conflict  that  was  to  be,  and  wagon  trains 
were  got  ready  to  start  as  soon  as  it  might  become  necessary. 
In  the  evening,  seven  companies  of  the  Third  Ohio,  and  Com 
panies  E,  G,  and  K,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  the  whole  force  under 
Colonel  Marrow,  received  orders  to  march  at  3  A.  M.  next 
day,  to  force  a  passage  to  the  Summit,  and  re-open  communi 
cation  at  all  hazards.  The  Thirteenth  Indiana  and  Second 
Virginia  were  to  cooperate  in  this  movement  from  the  Pass. 

It  was  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  September 
13th,  before  Colonel  Marrow's  detachment  got  fairly  under 
way,  less  than  two  miles  from  camp  striking  a  mountain 
path  strewn  with  blankets  and  cast-off  clothing,  which  led  the 
troops  to  suspect  the  rebels  were  retreating.  The  advance  was, 
nevertheless,  continued  with  great  caution,  with  the  Sixth  Ohio 
companies  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers,  until  authentic  in 
formation  of  the  enemy's  movements  could  be  obtained,  as  it 
soon  was.  General  Anderson's  attack  upon  Kimball's  rear 
had  been  met  by  a  most  gallant  resistance,  and  now  his  ex- 


120  THE  STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

hausted  battalions  were  in  panic-stricken  flight  toward  Jack 
son's  camp  on  the  south-eastern  slopes  of  Cheat  Mountain. 
Passing  a  gory  and  horrible  scene  where  a  body  of  rebels  had 
been  repulsed  on  Thursday,  the  expedition  kept  on  to  the 
Summit,  and,  having  fully  accomplished  its  object,  on  the  next 
day  returned  to  Elkwater.* 

On  Friday  morning,  the  troops  at  the  Ford  were  in  line  of 
battle  before  day-break,  waiting  in  vain  for  the  expected  assault. 
A  skirmish  party  from  the  Fifteenth  Indiana  was  sent  out  dur 
ing  the  forenoon  for  the  purpose  of  feeling  the  enemy,  and,  if 
possible,  to  dislodge  his  pickets  from  the  apple  orchard  before 
referred  to.  This  work  it  did  handsomely,  with  no  further  loss 
than  one  man  wounded  in  the  arm,  after  which  the  party  filled 
their  pockets  with  apples,  and  leisurely  returned  to  the  Ford. 
Meanwhile,  Loomis  had  again  opened  out  on  the  head  of  the 
rebel  column,  with  such  eifect  as  to  cause  it  to  withdraw  out 
of  range  in  considerable  haste,  the  rebel  guns  making  no  an 
swer,  though  plainly  visible  from  the  tree-tops  on  the  eminence 
where  the  Sixth  Ohio  supports  were  stationed.  As  no  tidings 
had  yet  been  received  from  the  Summit,  few  surmised  the  real 
cause  of  the  enemy's  inactivity,  namely,  the  miscarriage  of 
General  Anderson's  expedition,  from  which,  forecasting  the 
failure  of  the  campaign,  Lee  was  already  wavering  in  his  pur 
pose  of  attacking  Elkwater. 

*  For  a  fuller  account  of  this  expedition  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
chapter  entitled  "  Cheat  Mountain  Campaigning,"  in  Part  II.  The  march 
to  the  Summit  was  repeated  on  Monday,  the  16th  of  September,  by  Com 
panies  C,  E,  G  and  K,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  four  companies  of  the  Third 
Ohio,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  who  was  charged  with  the  duty 
of  guarding  a  supply  train  sent  up  from  the  Pass.  By  that  time,  how 
ever,  Jackson  was  preparing  to  withdraw  from  Kimball's  front,  and  Lee 
had  already  retired  beyond  Marshall's  Store. 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  121 

Between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  troops 
on  the  hill-side  were  startled  by  a  sharp  volley  of  musketry  on 
the  right,  a  short  distance  up  Elkwater  Hun,  down  which  a 
squad  of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana  were  seen  coming  a  few 
minutes  afterward,  carrying  a  rude  litter,  on  which  lay  the 
dead  body  of  a  rebel  officer.  The  corpse  was  brought  to  camp 
and  there  recognized  by  Captain  Loomis  and  Lieutenant  Wil 
liam  P.  Anderson,  as  that  of  John  A.  Washington,  once  the 
sordid  possessor  of  Mount  Vernon,  whose  treason  had  given 
him  a  lieutenant-colonel's  rank  upon  the  staif  of  General  Lee. 
Reconnoitering  in  company  with  two  other  officers,  he  had 
ridden  directly  into  a  body  of  pickets  secreted  among  the 
bushes,  and  fell  from  his  saddle  at  their  first  volley,  pierced 
through  the  breast  with  three  bullets,  his  companions  making 
their  escape,  although  one  of  them  with  a  severe  wound.  Col 
onel  Washington  lived  a  short  time,  but  never  spoke,  except 
to  feebly  ask  for  water.  Upon  his  person  were  found  maps  of 
the  Cheat  Mountain  region  and  various  plans,  together  with  a 
printed  scrap,  originally  published  in  a  Northern  newspaper, 
giving  the  strength  of  General  Reynolds'  command,  and  min 
utely  describing 'the  Elkwater  fortifications. 

Another  lovely  morning  dawned,  in  the  same  quiet  as  that 
of  the  preceding  day.  It  had  been  decided  to  return  the  body 
of  Colonel  Washington  to  his  friends,  and  soon  after  break 
fast,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wilder,  of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana, 
to  whom  this  duty  had  been  intrusted,  rode  forward  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  followed  by  an  ambulance  bearing  the  corpse. 
A  short  distance  out,  he  met  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stark,  of  a 
Louisiana  regiment,  coming  toward  the  Union  lines  with  a 
message  of  inquiry  from  General  Lee  in  regard  to  the  fate  ot 
his  subordinate.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stark  was  visibly  af- 


122  THE  STORY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

fected  at  the  sight  of  the  dead  body,  but  speedily  recovering 
his  composure,  the 

"  Foemen,  side  by  side, 
Sat  peaceful  down,  like  brothers  tried," 

and  conversed  together  at  some  length,  without  once  touching 
upon  the  subject  of  the  war.  It  was  ten  o'clock  before  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Wilder  repassed  the  Union  outposts.  The 
long- continued  reticence  of  the  enemy  now  began  to  be  inter 
preted  as  betokening  retreat,  notwithstanding  which,  consider 
able  bodies  of  the  rebels  could  still  be  seen  hovering  close  upon 
the  front,  so  long  as  daylight  remained.  A  corporal  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  undertaking  a  scout  beyond  Stewart's  Run,  upon  private 
account,  narrowly  escaped  capture,  which  he  did  simply  by 
superior  soundness  in  wind  and  limb. 

When  Sunday  morning  broke,  no  enemy  was  in  sight.  Gen 
eral  Jackson  did,  indeed,  make  another  futile  demonstration 
on  the  Summit  later  in  the  day;  but  his  commander-in-chief 
was  thoroughly  disheartened  and  had  abandoned  the  contest. 
That  Lee  was  misled  by  prisoners  and  the  report  of  Ander 
son's  demoralized  troops,  as  to  the  strength  of  the  forces  op 
posed  to  him,  admits  of  no  doubt.  It  is  no  less  certain  that 
had  he  thrown  the  whole  weight  of  his  main  column  upon 
Elkwater,  even  after  the  rout  of  Anderson's  brigade,  his  plans 
for  dislodging  Reynolds  from  the  Cheat  Mountain  Gaps  might 
have  been  successfully  carried  out  in  all  essential  particulars. 
But  Lee's  genius  was  not  of  the  Stonewall  Jackson  type,  quick 
to  decide,  daring  and  impetuous  in  execution.  Nature  richly 
endowed  him  as  a  defensive  strategist,  but  the  correlative  traits 
of  a  master  in  war  he  never  possessed.  The  keen  disappoint 
ment  that  was  felt  at  Richmond,  at  the  result  of  the  Cheat 
Mountain  campaign,  is  most  valuable  testimony  to  the  extent 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  123 

of  the  services  there  rendered  the  Union  cause  by  General 
Reynolds7  little  command. 

The  following  is  General  Reynolds'  official  report : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE  I.  V.  M., ") 

ELKWATER,  Sept.  17,  1861.         I 

George  L.  Hartsuff,  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  Department  Ohio. 

SIR  :  The  operations  of  this  brigade  for  the  past  few  days  may 
be  summed  up  as  follows :  On  the  12th  inst.  the  enemy,  nine 
thousand  strong,  with  eight  to  twelve  pieces  of  artillery,  under 
command  of  General  R.  E.  Lee,  advanced  on  this  position  by  the 
Huutersville  turnpike.  Our  advanced  pickets — portions  of  the 
Fifteenth  Indiana  and  Sixth  Ohio — gradually  fell  back  to  our  main 
picket  station ;  two  companies  of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana,  under 
Colonel  Hascall,  checking  the  enemy's  advance  at  the  Point  Mountain 
turnpike,  and  then  falling  back  on  the  regiment,  which  occupied  a 
very  advanced  position  on  our  right  front,  and  which  was  now  or 
dered  in.  The  enemy  threw  into  the  woods  on  our  left  front  three 
regiments,  who  made  their  way  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Cheat  Mount 
ain,  took  a  position  on  the  road  leading  to  Huttonsville,  broke  the 
telegraph  wire,  and  cut  off  our  communication  with  Colonel  Kimball's 
Fourteenth  Indiana  on  Cheat  Summit.  Simultaneously,  another 
force  of  the  enemy,  of  about  equal  strength,  advanced  by  the  Staun- 
ton  pike  on  the  front  of  Cheat  Mountain,  and  threw  two  regiments 
to  the  right  and  rear  of  Cheat  Summit,  which  united  with  the  three 
regiments  from  the  other  column  of  the  enemy.  (The  two  posts, 
Cheat  Summit  and  Elkwater,  are  seven  (?)  miles  apart  by  a  bridle 
path  over  the  mountain,  and  eighteen  miles  by  the  wagon  road,  via 
Huttonsville — "Cheat  Mountain  Pass,"  the  former  head-quarters 
of  the  brigade,  being  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  ten  miles  from 
the  Summit).  The  enemy,  advancing  toward  the  Pass,  by  which 
he  might  possibly  have  gained  the  rear  or  left  of  Elkwater,  was 
met  there  by  three  companies  of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana,  ordered 
up  for  that  purpose,  and  by  one  company  of  the  Fourteenth  Indi- 


124  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ana  from  the  Summit.  These  four  companies  engaged  and  held 
in  check  greatly  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  foiled  him  in  his 
attempt  to  obtain  the  rear  or  left  of  Elkwater,  and  threw  him  into 
the  right  and  rear  of  Cheat  Mountain,  the  companies  retiring  to  the 
Pass,  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains. 

The  enemy,  about  five  thousand  strong,  was  closed  in  on  Cheat 
Summit,  and  became  engaged  with  detachments  of  the  Fourteenth 
Indiana  and  Twenty-fourth  and  Twenty-fifth  Ohio,  from  the  Sum 
mit — in  all,  only  about  three  hundred  men — who,  deployed  in  the 
woods,  held  in  check  and  killed  many  of  the  enemy,  who  did  not 
at  any  time  succeed  in  getting  sufficiently  near  the  field  redoubt 
to  give  Dauin's  battery  an  opportunity  of  firing  into  him.  So 
matters  rested  at  dark  on  the  12th,  with  heavy  forces  in  front  and 
in  plain  sight  of  both  posts,  communication  cut  off,  and  the  sup 
ply  train  for  the  mountain,  loaded  with  provisions  which  were 
needed,  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  pass  up  the  road.  Deter 
mined  to  force  a  communication  with  Cheat  Summit,  I  ordered  the 
Thirteenth  Indiana,  under  Colonel  Sullivan,  to  cut  their  way,  if 
necessary,  by  the  mail  road,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  Third 
Ohio  and  Second  Virginia,  under  Colonels  Marrow  and  Moss  re 
spectively,  to  do  the  same  by  the  path ;  the  two  commands  start 
ing  at  three  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  the  13th — the  former  from  Cheat 
Mountain  Pass,  and  the  latter  from  Elkwater,  so  as  to  fall  upon 
the  enemy,  if  possible,  simultaneously.  Early  on  the  13th,  the 
small  force  of  about  three  hundred  from  the  Summit  engaged  the 
enemy,  and  with  such  effect  that,  notwithstanding  his  greatly  su 
perior  numbers,  he  retired  in  great  haste  and  disorder,  leaving 
large  quantities  of  clothing  and  equipments  on  the  ground ;  and 
our  relieving  forces,  failing  to  catch  the  enemy,  marched  to  the 
Summit,  securing  the  provision  train,  and  re-opening  our  commu 
nication. 

While  this  was  taking  place  on  the  mountain,  and  as  yet  un 
known  to  us,  the  enemy,  under  Lee,  advanced  on  Elkwater,  ap 
parently  for  a  general  attack.  One  rifled  ten-pound  Parrott  gun, 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  125 

from  Loomis'  battery,  was  run  to  the  front  three-fourths  of  a  mile, 
and  delivered  a  few  shots  at  the  enemy,  doing  fine  execution, 
causing  him  to  withdraw  out  of  convenient  range.  Our  relative 
positions  remained  unchanged  until  near  dark,  when  we  learned 
the  result  of  the  movement  on  the  mountain,  as  above  stated,  and 
the  enemy  retired  somewhat  for  the  night. 

On  the  14th,  early,  the  enemy  was  again  in  position  in  front  of 
Elkwater,  and  a  few  rounds,  supported  by  a  company  of  the  Fif 
teenth  Indiana,  were  again  administered,,  which  caused  him  to 
withdraw  as  before.*  The  forces  that  had  been  before  repulsed 
from  Cheat  returned,  and  were  again  driven  back  by  a  compara 
tively  small  force  from  the  mountain.  The  Seventeenth  Indiana 
was  ordered  up  the  path  to  open  communication  and  make  way  for 
another  supply  train;  but,  as  before,  found  the  little  band  from 
the  Summit  had  already  done  the  work.  During  the  afternoon  of 
the  14th,  the  enemy  withdrew  from  before  Elkwater,  and  is  now 
principally  concentrated  some  ten  miles  from  this  post,  at  or  near 
his  main  camp.  On  the  15th,  he  appeared  in  stronger  force  than 
at  any  previous  time  in  front  of  Cheat,  and  attempted  a  flank 
movement  by  the  left,  but  was  driven  back  by  the  ever-vigilant 
and  gallant  garrison  of  the  field  redoubt  on  the  Summit.  To-day, 
the  enemy  has  also  retired  from  the  front  of  Cheat,  but  to  what 
precise  position  I  am  not  yet  informed. 

The  results  of  these  affairs  are,  that  we  have  killed  near  one 
hundred  of  the  enemy,  including  Colonel  John  A.  Washington, 
aid-de-camp  to  General  Lee,  and  have  taken  about  twenty  pris 
oners.  We  have  lost  nine  killed,  including  Lieutenant  Junod, 
Fourteenth  Indiana,  two  missing,  and  about  sixty  prisoners, 
including  Captain  James  Bense  and  Lieutenants  Oilman  and 

*  The  date  here  given  is  erroneous.  The  writer  was  one  of  the  de 
tachment  on  the  hill-side  above  the  Ford,  and  is  very  positive  that  the 
events  referred  to  in  this  sentence,  took  place  on  Friday,  the  13th,  as  be 
fore  narrated. 


126  THE   STOEY   OF  A   KEGIMENT. 

Schieffer,    of   the   Sixth    Ohio,    and    Lieutenant   Merrill,    of   the 
Engineers. 

I  append  the  reports  of  Colonel  Kimball,  Fourteenth  Indiana; 
Captain  Higgins,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio ;  and  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Owens  and  Colonel  Wagner,  of  the  Fifteenth  Indiana. 

J.  J.  REYNOLDS, 

Brigadier-  General  Commanding  First  Brigade. 

Of  the  reports  above  enumerated,  Colonel  Wagner's  is  the 
only  one  possessing  sufficient  interest  in  connection  with  our 
narrative  to  justify  its  introduction  here.  Omitting  a  few  de 
tails  in  regard  to  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Fifteenth 
Indiana,  it  is  as  follows : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FIFTEENTH  REGIMENT) 
INDIANA  VOLS.,  Sept.  12,  1861.     ) 
Brigadier- General  J.  J.  Reynolds, 

SIR  :  On  the  9th  of  the  present  month,  I  ordered  Captain  Tem- 
pleton  to  take  Companies  D  and  F,  and  take  possession  of,  and 
hold  the  Point  Mountain  pike,  supported  by  Major  Christopher, 
of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  Ohio,  with  one  hundred  men,  at  Conrad's 
Mills,  two  miles  in  the  rear.  The  first  was  about  eight  miles  in 
advance  of  my  camp,  and  four  miles  from  the  enemy's  encampment. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth,  Captain  Templeton's  pickets  were 
attacked  by  the  enemy's  column  advancing  down  the  road ;  they 
fell  back  on  the  main  force — the  enemy  still  advancing  in  force. 
Captain  Templeton  dispatched  a  dragoon  for  reinforcements.  I 
immediately  sent  the  left  wing  of  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  under 
command  of  Major  Wood,  with  orders  to  hold  the  position ;  but 
soon  after,  a  scout  (who  had  been  posted  three  miles  east  of  Cap 
tain  Templeton,  with  instructions  to  report  to  me  any  movement 
of  the  enemy  on  the  left  flank)  came  in  and  reported  a  column  of  two 
thousand  troops  marching  in  this  direction,  with  the  evident  in 
tention  of  cutting  off  Captain  Templeton  and  Major  Christopher 


THE   DISCOMFITURE   OF   LEE.  127 

I  immediately  sent  orders  for  the  entire  force  to  fall  back  or  the 
main  force,  which  they  did  in  good  order,  bringing  off  their 
wounded — having  two  men  killed,  one  taken  pnsoner,  and  three 

wounded At  this  time,  you  arrived  on  the 

ground,  and  took  command.  Let  me  say  that  officers  and  men  all 
did  their  duty,  and  I  must  be  allowed  to  commend  to  your  notice 
Sergeant  Thompson,  of  Company  D,  who  had  command  of  the 
first  party  engaged,  as  well  as  the  men  with  him,  who  stood  and 
fought  until  half  of  the  party  were  shot  down  before  they  would 
fall  back. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

a.  D.  WAGNER, 
Colonel  Fifteenth  Ind.  Vols. 


128  THE  STOKY  OF  A  KEGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  X. 
THE   CAMPAIGN   DRAWS  TO  A  CLOSE. 

(SEPTEMBER  18-OCTOBER  8,  1861.) 

r  I  ^ HE  repulse  of  Lee's  army  brought  a  welcome  feeling  of 
-•-  relief  to  the  troops  of  General  Reynolds'  little  division; 
and,  indeed,  there  was  cause  for  rejoicing,  and  even  for  exulta 
tion,  in  the  fact  that  a  substantial  success  had  been  achieved,  at 
a  cost  far  less  than  the  most  sanguine  dared  count  upon  one 
week  before.  As  has  been  shown,  however,  it  was  not  wholly 
a  bloodless  victory ;  the  Sixth  Ohio,  in  consequence  of  the  un 
fortunate  affair  up  Stewart's  Run,  being  the  principal  sufferer 
at  Elkwater. 

The  line  which  Captain  Bense,  with  his  fifty  men,  had  been 
sent  out  to  picket,  was  not  less  than  three  or  four  miles  in 
length ;  and  not  only  was  it  entirely  unsupported  and  the  po 
sition  an  isolated  one,  but  the  troops  there  stationed  had  not 
even  been  accustomed  to  keep  up  regular  communication  with 
camp.  When  Anderson's  brigade  came  pouring  down  the 
valley,  the  outermost  picket-post  was  held  by  two  Swiss, 
Gregoire  Yehle  and  Jacob  Helflicker,  who  stood  their  ground 
manfully,  but  were  quickly  shot  down,  and  left  in  the  woods 
where  they  fell.  Yehle  was  killed  instantly.  Helflicker  was 
found  a  week  afterward  at  a  log  hut  further  up  the  Run,  with 
a  portion  of  his  skull  shot  away,  but  still  alive,  although  in- 


THE   CAMPAIGN   DRAWS    TO   A   CLOSE. 


129 


sensible.  His  wound  presented  a  sickening  spectacle,  from  the 
operations  of  vermin,  to  destroy  which  the  woman  who,  with 
her  family,  tenanted  the  hovel,  had  poured  in  turpentine,  the 
only  remedy  she  had.  Dr.  Loving  had  the  wounded  man 
brought  back  to  the  regimental  hospital,  where,  in  a  few  weeks, 
he  partially  regained  the  use  of  his  faculties,  and  continued  to 
improve  until  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Kentucky,  yet 
eventually  died  of  his  wounds,  in  a  general  hospital  at  Cin 
cinnati. 

The  force  captured  up  Stewart's  Run,  consisted  of  three 
officers  and  forty-seven  enlisted  men,  as  follows.  Lieutenant 
Oilman  had  performed  valuable  service  during  the  scouting  ex 
peditions  from  Beverly,  and,  in  fact,  all  the  unfortunate  officers 
were  accounted  brave  and  competent.  The  enlisted  men  were 
all  from  Company  I : 


Captain  James  Bense,  Company  I. 

Second  Lieutenant  Charles  Gilman,  Company  C. 

Second  Lieutenant  Frank  S.  Schieffer,  Company  F. 


1st  Serg't  Wesley  B.  McLane, 

"  John  Hanley, 

"  Ferd.  McDonough, 

Corporal  Chas.  Fahlbusch, 

"  Henry  S.  Gibson, 

"  William  Langenheim, 

"  Thomas  Long, 

"  John  Williams, 

Private  B.  Frank  Brahm, 

"  Adolpli  Brunei-, 

"  Henry  Buddenbaum, 

"  George  Burner, 

"  James  Carson, 

"  Michael  Connell, 
9 


Private 

M 
U 


Joseph  Dreher, 
Fred'k  Ellerman, 
Samuel  Erminger, 
Robert  Finley, 
Wm.  Forristall, 
Antoine  Frave, 
August  Grass, 
Edwin  Green, 
Henry  Harmyer, 
Fred'k  W.  Heckert, 
Otto  Hof, 
David  Hummell, 
William  Jurgens, 
Jacob  Landis, 


130 


THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


Private  George  S.  La  Rue, 

"  Jacob  Lesie, 

"  John  Little, 

"  Thomas  Marshall, 

«  Eli  Miller, 

"  Hiram  Mosier, 

"  John  Oysterboy, 

"  John  L.  Rea, 

"  Timothy  Ryan, 

"  Matthias  Seibert, 


Private  Orlando  M.  Smith, 

"  Christian  Schweitzer, 

"  Wm.  Y.  Thoburn, 

"  Wm.  C.  Weber, 

"  Sylvester  Weber, 

"  William  Wenzel. 

"  James  Wilson, 

"  William  Yager, 

"  John  Zimmerman. 


Under  a  strong  guard,  the  prisoners  were  marched  to  the 
first  night's  resting-place  of  Anderson's  brigade  on  the  mount 
ains,  from  whence,  almost  looking  down  upon  their  own  tents 
at  Elkwater,  they  eagerly  watched,  through  all  that  dismal 
night,  for  some  opportunity  to  escape.  Once  they  raised  the 
cry  of  "  Bear !  bear ! "  and  in  the  confusion  that  followed,  pri 
vate  Edward  Hof  gave  his  guard  the  slip,  sprang  down  a  steep 
ledge  of  rocks,  and  late  next  day  got  back  to  camp,  half  dead 
with  hunger  and  fatigue.  The  ruse  was  repeated  in  various 
forms,  but  without  further  success.  Next  day  the  captives 
were  sent  back  to  the  main  army  in  front  of  Elkwater.  To 
all  inquiries  respecting  the  strength  and  position  of  the  Union 
forces,  they  answered  evasively  or  else  with  exaggerations  that 
were  any  thing  but  calculated  to  give  aid  and  comfort  to  the 
enemy.  On  Saturday  they  were  marched  southward,  and  turn 
ing  their  backs  upon  Elkwater,  found  themselves  fairly  en  route 
for  Richmond,  the  party  including,  besides  the  Sixth  Ohio 
pickets,  Lieutenant  Merrill  and  a  squad  from  the  Thirteenth 
Indiana,  captured  by  Anderson's  forces  on  Cheat  Mountain. 
Throughout  their  weary  and  foot-sore  march,  the  prisoners 
every-where  excited  much  curiosity,  and  were  sometimes  the 
objects  of  coarse  and  bitter  vituperation,  as  at  one  point,  for 


THE   CAMPAIGN    DRAWS   TO   A   CLOSE.  131 

example,  where  an  old  gray-haired  planter  met  the  column,  and, 
with  terrible  oaths,  asked  the  privilege  of  shooting  at  the  Yan 
kees  at  fifty  cents  a  shot.  Dr.  Fletcher,*  who  had  been  captured 
a  few  weeks  previous,  was  at  Huntersville  when  the  prisoners 
passed  through  there,  and  entreated  to  be  taken  along  with  the 
rest,  notwithstanding  that  he  was  yet  suffering  from  the  effects 
of  a  severe  attack  of  illness.  Upon  the  urgent  representations 
of  Captain  Bcnse  and  the  other  officers,  a  well-dispositioned 
mule  was  pressed  into  service,  and,  thus  mounted,  the  invalid 
made  the  journey  with  comparative  comfort.  Since  then, 
Dr.  Fletcher  has  publicly  acknowledged  the  kindness  of  his 
fellow-captives  in  the  warmest  terms.  By  the  time  the  pris 
oners  reached  the  railroad,  which  they  finally  did  at  a  point 
between  Covington  and  Staunton,  they  were  worn  out  with 
hard  marching,  and  suffering  greatly  from  hunger.  At  Staun 
ton,  however,  a  substantial  supper  was  furnished  them,  and  a 
day  or  two  later  saw  the  whole  party  within  the  well-guarded 
walls  of  a  rebel  prison  at  Richmond.  Their  place  of  confine 
ment  was  an  old  tobacco  warehouse,  ("  Libby  Prison  "  being  at 
that  time  a  name  and  doom  unknown,)  where,  for  the  present, 
we  must  leave  them. 

The  importance  of  retaining  a  firm  hold  upon  the  Cheat 
Mountain  region  was  generally  appreciated  at  the  North,  now 
that  it  had  been  so  nearly  lost;  and  scarcely  had  Lee's  army 
settled  down  again  in  its  old  quarters  when  General  Reynolds 
began  to  receive  heavy  reinforcements  from  Ohio  and  Indiana. 

*Dr.  William  Fletcher,  of  Indianapolis,  an  efficient  and  daring  scout 
during  the  first  months  of  the  war,  was  originally  a  volunteer  aid  to  Gen 
eral  McClellan,  but  at  the  time  of  his  capture  was  performing  duty  on 
the  staff  of  General  Reynolds.  His  services  were  purely  voluntary,  as  he 
neither  held  a  commission  nor  received  any  pay. 


132  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Before  the  24th  of  September,  the  Ninth  and  Seventh  Indiana — 
reorganized  under  their  old  commanders,  Colonels  Milroy  and 
Dumont,  respectively — Howe's  splendidly  appointed  company 
of  regular  artillery,  and  two  companies  of  the  First  Ohio  Cav 
alry,  had  reached  Elkwater ;  the  Thirty-second  Ohio,  Colonel 
Thomas  H.  Ford  commanding,  had  come  up  as  far  as  Huttons- 
ville,  and  were  in  camp  there;  while  Beverly  was  garrisoned 
by  Company  H,  of  the  Fifth  Ohio.  The  removal  of  brigade 
head-quarters  to  Elkwater  had  been  followed  by  the  transfer  of 
the  Thirteenth  Indiana,  with  the  Second  Virginia,  to  the  same 
post,  the  camp  at  the  Pass  being  broken  up.  Heartily  though 
all  at  Elkwater  welcomed  these  accessions  to  their  numbers, 
there  was  an  unmistakable  feeling  of  disappointment,  so  far 
as  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  concerned,  when  it  came  to  be  seen  what 
a  change  reorganization  had  brought  about  in  its  old  comrades, 
the  Seventh  and  Ninth  Indiana,  in  which,  though  many  wore 
upon  the  sleeve  the  honorable  badge  of  reenlistment,  the  large 
majority  were  green  troops.  Both  commands,  nevertheless, 
possessed  a  terrible  capacity  for  fighting,  as  many  a  hard-fought 
field,  from  the  James  River  to  the  Chattahoochee,  afterward  bore 
most  glorious  testimony. 

On  the  26th  of  September  an  expedition  left  Camp  Elk- 
water,  upon  a  reconnoissance  in  force,  consisting  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Indiana  and  Sixth  Ohio  regiments — the  latter  turning 
out  near  eight  hundred  strong — a  section  of  Loomis'  artillery, 
under  Lieutenant  Gilham,  and  a  small  detachment  of  Bracken's 
cavalry,  the  whole  under  command  of  Colonel  Sullivan,  of  the 
Thirteenth  Indiana.  Five  miles  beyond  the  fortifications  it 
was  overtaken  by  a  pouring  rain,  soon  after  which  darkness 
came  on,  and  the  main  body  halted  for  the  night  near  Conrad's 
Mill — Companies  B  and  G,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  two  others, 
being  thrown  forward  to  picket  the  passes  and  cross-roads  to 


THE   CAMPAIGN    DRAWS   TO   A   CLOSE. 

the  distance  of  about  two  miles  further.     Again  moving  for 
ward,  after  a  night  of  unceasing  rain,  the  main  column  cau 
tiously  felt  its  way  along  the  turnpike,  while  Companies  C  and 
F,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  Company  C,  of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana, 
were  moved  up  by  a  circuitous  route,  with  instructions  to  fall 
upon  the  enemy's  flank  should  he  attempt  to  make  a  stand  at 
Marshall's  Store,  where  he  was  reported  to  have  a  strong  out 
post  ;  but  the  column  reunited  at  that  point  without  firing  a 
shot,  the  rebel  pickets  having  been  called  in  and  concentrated 
nearer  their  principal  camp,  which  was  at  Big  Spring,  six  miles 
beyond.     Major  Foster,  of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana,  was  then 
ordered  forward  with  six  companies  of  infantry  and  one  piece 
of  artillery  to  reconnoiter  the  rebel  position  upon  Mingo  Flats, 
which  is  an  elevated  plateau,  well  cleared  of  timber,  about  two 
miles  beyond  Marshall's  Store.     The  road  had  been  terribly 
cut  up,  and,  under  the  heavy  rain  which  was  still  falling, 
hourly  grew  worse,  so  that  it  was  only  with  great  difficulty 
that  Lieutenant  Gilham  succeeded  in  getting  his  piece  forward. 
About  eleven  o'clock,  however,  the  pickets  were  encountered 
and  driven  in,  which  was  quickly  followed  by  the  sound  of 
long-roll  from  the  rebel  camp  beyond,  and  the  appearance  of 
considerable  numbers  of  the  enemy  moving  into  position.    There 
was  some  further  skirmishing,  but  with  very  little  effect — not 
enough  to  disturb  Colonel  Sullivan  and  other  officers,  as  they 
rode  to  the  front  and  deliberately  examined  the  rebel  position; 
and,  meanwhile,  the  storm  increased,  with  the  accompaniment 
of  a  cold  north-east  wind.     For  an  hour  and  a  half  the  troops 
stood  shivering  in  the  rain,  awaiting  orders,  then  faced  about, 
and,  with  quickened  step,  set  out  for  camp.     At  Marshall's 
Store,  where  the  main  body  had  been  resting  meantime,  the 
column  was  hurriedly  reformed,  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  advance, 
and  the  left  of  the  regiment  in  front. 


134  THE   STORY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

The  Tygart's  Valley  River  was  a  brawling  streamlet,  scarcely 
knee-deep,  when  the  troops  forded  it  that  morning — once  about 
two  miles  below  Marshall's  Store,  and  again  just  on  reaching 
that  hamlet.  But  now  it  had  swollen  out  of  its  banks,  and 
ran  a  current  so  swift  and  strong  that  fording  was  dangerous 
in  the  extreme.  Captain  Russell,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  lost  his 
footing,  but  was  rescued  by  a  cavalryman ;  Quartermaster 
Shoemaker,  who  was  swept  from  his  horse,  narrowly  escaped 
drowning ;  and  several  guns  were  lost  during  the  perilous  pas 
sage  by  the  troops.  Fortunately,  a  tottering  foot-log,  bridging 
the  deepest  part  of  the  stream,  was  still  in  position,  and  of  this 
availing  themselves,  most  of  the  men  succeeded  in  crossing 
without  serious  accident.  While  the  head  of  the  column  was 
thus  tediously  filing  over,  a  party  in  the  rear  burnt  to  the 
ground  the  mill  and  store  which,  together  with  a  little  frame 
church,  constituted  the  principal  part  of  the  village,  both  build 
ings  being  the  property  of  the  Marshall  from  whom  the  place 
takes  its  name — a  wealthy  and  notorious  secessionist,  at  that 
time  absent  with  Lee's  army. 

"  The  next  ford,"  says  the  diary  of  a  private  soldier  in  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  "we  reached  about  half-past  two  o'clock,  but 
fording  was  out  of  the  question.  Our  pretty  little  mountain 
stream  had  become  a  fierce  and  roaring  torrent,  over  one's 
head  in  depth,  and  covering  the  narrow  vale  from  hill  to  hill. 
It  was  still  rising  with  fearful  rapidity,  and  the  rain  at  no  time 
falling  faster.  For  a  minute  or  more  we  stood  on  the  bank  in 
boding  uncertainty.  Field,  staff,  and  cavalrymen,  there  were 
soon  several  horsemen  at  the  head  of  the  column,  yet  none  who 
would  venture  into  the  untried  depths  of  that  rushing  flood, 
until  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  rode  forward.  '  Let  me 
try  it,'  I  heard  him  say,  dashing  into  the  current  as  he  spoke. 
'  Hold  his  head  up  stream ! '  shouted  a  dozen  voices  from  the 


THE   CAMPAIGN   DRAWS   TO   A    CLOSE.  135  ^ 

shore,  but  the  roar  of  the  waters  must  have  drowned  the  sound 
before  it  reached  him.  Carefully  and  steadily  he  moved  on, 
steed  and  rider  seeming  to  understand  perfectly  their  part,  their 
peril,  and  each  other.  The  main  bed  of  the  stream  was  far 
toward  the  opposite  bank,  which  was  almost  gained,  when  down 
went  the  gray,  at  a  single  step,  eight  inches  below  the  belly- 
girths.  I  held  my  breath,  and  so  did  all,  as  with  two  or  three 
desperate  plunges  the  horse  regained  his  footing,  and  the  rider 
his  balance ;  and  in  another  moment  the  noble  gray  stood  drip 
ping  on  the  bank.  Wet  and  wretched  though  we  were,  off 
went  our  hats,  and  we  cheered  with  a  will. 

"  There  was  a  foot-log  here,  too,  the  further  end  of  it  resting 
on  a  number  of  old,  half-imbedded  logs  which,  although  high 
and  dry  enough  at  an  ordinary  stage  of  water,  were  now  rap 
idly  being  submerged.  Creeping  along  the  base  of  the  hill,  we 
managed  to  get  out,  one  by  one,  upon  the  log,  and  began  cross 
ing.  I  passed  over  next  behind  Captain  Andrews.  We  soon 
saw  that  the  frail  bridge  could  not  last  much  longer,  and  by 
gestures  tried  to  warn  those  upon  the  other  side  not  to  follow, 
but  in  vain.  Companies  B  and  G  had  all  come  over,  and 
Company  K  was  following  as  rapidly  as  possible,  when  one 
of  the  men  belonging  to  it  fell  from  the  swaying  log  into  the 
middle  of  the  stream,  and  was  swept  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 
His  horror-stricken  comrades  from  either  shore  saw  him  reel — 
a  sudden  plunge  into  the  flood,  a  momentary  glimpse  of  an 
empty  haversack  floating  on  the  surface,  and  that  was  all. 
His  name  was  Frank  Guhra,  an  unmarried  German,  known 
throughout  the  regiment  as  probably  the  smallest  man  in  its 
ranks.  No  one  attempted  to  cross  after  this,  and  a  few  min 
utes  later  the  pier-logs  lifted,  and  the  foot-bridge  went  careen 
ing  down  the  rapids." 

Upon  one  side  of  the  now  impassable  torrent  were  Lieuten- 


136  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ant-Colonel  Anderson,  a  portion  of  the  regimental  staff,  and 
about  two  hundred  men  of  the  Sixth  Ohio;  upon  the  other, 
the  main  party  rested,  with  the  wagons,  ambulances,  and  artil 
lery.  It  was  evident  that  both  detachments  must  pass  the 
night  where  they  were,  which,  in  consideration  of  the  largely 
superior  force  that  the  rebels  were  believed  to  have  only  a 
few  miles  in  the  rear,  was  not  exactly  a  comfortable  prospect. 
Giving  little  thought  to  the  situation,  however,  the  men  built 
blazing  fires,  cooked  their  pork,  and  prepared  to  snatch  what 
sleep  might  be  possible  amid  such  surroundings.  Toward 
evening,  the  rain  ceased,  the  wind  veered  around  to  the  west 
ward,  and  although  the  night  was  black  darkness  itself,  the 
storm  was  at  an  end. 

When  daylight  came,  it  revealed  the  fact  that  the  waters  had 
fallen  considerably,  and  the  troops  immediately  resumed  their 
homeward  journey,  traces  of  the  storm  appearing  upon  all 
sides.  The  road  had  been  almost  washed  away  at  some  points, 
and  at  others  was  buried  beneath  huge  land-slides.  In  more 
than  one  place  the  river  had  cut  out  for  itself  an  entirely  new 
channel;  one  of  the  fords  was  blockaded  by  two  large  pine 
trees,  torn  up  by  the  roots,  and  a  perfect  raft  of  smaller  drift ; 
and  at  the  last  ford,  three  miles  from  the  breastworks,  the 
stream  was  still  so  deep  that  the  column  was  obliged  to  wait 
four  hours  before  it  could  safely  cross.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
the  weary  and  bedraggled  troops  reached  Camp  Elkwater, 
where  a  most  distressing  sight  met  the  Sixth  Ohio.  The  river 
had  risen  to  such  an  extent  the  previous  night  that  it  covered 
the  vale  from  the  turnpike  almost  to  Crouch's,  or  until  the 
beautiful  camp  in  the  maple  grove  was  four  feet  under  water. 
A  dirty  stain,  far  up  the  outside  of  every  tent,  marked  the 
greatest  height  of  the  waters,  whose  receding  had  left  a  slimy 
deposit  on  the  greensward  two  inches  in  depth.  The  flood 


THE    CAMPAIGN    DRAWS    TO   A    CLOSE.  ,         137 

came  on  suddenly,  and  rose  with  unexampled  rapidity — such 
that  the  few  guards  left  at  camp  had  with  difficulty  succeeded 
in  saving  a  part  of  the  regimental  stores  and  camp  equipage, 
the  remainder  either  floating  away  or  being  ruined  by  the 
water.  Some  of  the  officers  lost  their  mess-chests,  with  con 
tents,  and  one  or  two  entire  companies  of  the  right  wing  were 
in  the  same  predicament,  but  happily,  although  there  were  sev 
eral  narrow  escapes  recounted,  no  lives  had  been  lost.  Fresh, 
clean  straw  had  been  furnished  the  tents,  which  were  cold  and 
damp ;  a  good  supper  put  new  heart  into  all,  and,  having  dried 
their  blankets  thoroughly,  the  men  sought  them  early,  and 
slept  soundly.  A  bright  and  glorious  day — a  quiet,  Sabbath 
day — succeeded,  and  all  was  well  again  at  Elkwater. 

The  testimony  of  rebel  deserters,  the  reports  of  scouts,  and 
the  information  Colonel  Sullivan  had  gleaned  upon  this  recon- 
noissance,  all  concurred  in  picturing  the  rebel  force  yet  remain 
ing  at  Mingo  Flats  as  much  demoralized  and  suffering  greatly 
from  disease,  and  these  circumstances,  taken  in  connection  with 
the  lateness  of  the  season,  convinced  General  Reynolds  that 
Elkwater  was  not  likely  to  be  again  attacked.  Facing  Cheat 
Mountain  Summit,  however,  and  distant  from  it  about  twelve 
miles,  General  Jackson  still  held  a  strongly-fortified  position  at 
"  Camp  Bartow,"  near  the  point  on  the  Monterey  turnpike  in 
dicated  on  the  maps  as <(  Traveler's  Repose,"  which  is  merely  a 
noted  tavern  in  the  Greenbrier  Valley,  lying  between  Greenbrier 
Mountain  and  the  principal  range  of  the  Alleghanies.  Regard 
ing  this  camp  as  a  standing  menace,  the  troops  on  the  Summit 
longed  to  drive  back  or  capture  the  brigade  there  posted;  a 
soldierly  impulse  that  General  Reynolds  was  quite  willing  to 
gratify  as  far  as  possible,  and  the  more  so  as  he  was  anxious 
to  ascertain  definitely  the  enemy's  position  and  strength.  At 
the  same  time  the  idea  of  permanently  occupying  Camp  Bar- 


138  THE   STORY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

tow,  and  thus  still  further  lengthening  a  line  of  communication 
and  supplies  already  inconveniently  long,  was  not  to  be  enter 
tained  for  a  moment ;  in  accordance  with  which  views  an  armed 
reconnoissance  was  planned,  resulting  in  the  battle  of  Green- 
brier,  so-called,  fought  on  Thursday,  the  3d  of  October.  This 
affair  was  simply  a  brilliant  artillery  duel,  the  infantry  having 
little  to  do  after  driving  in  the  enemy's  pickets.  Of  the  Elk- 
water  forces,  there  were  present  the  Seventh,  Ninth,  Thirteenth, 
Fifteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Indiana  Regiments,  and  the  bat 
teries  of  Howe  and  Loom  is.  The  Third  and  Sixth  Ohio  and 
the  Second  Virginia  Regiments  were  left  at  camp,  with  orders 
to  maintain  a  bold  front  on  the  Huntersville  turnpike,  and  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  to  the  Summit  at  a  mo 
ment's  notice,  if  called  upon.  The  movement  on  Greenbrier 
was  inconsequential,  and  the  Elkwater  detachments  next  day 
returned  to  their  own  camp,  where  their  arrival  was  attended 
with  a  tragedy  of  the  saddest  character. 

"About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon/7  writes  a  member  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  u  our  camp  was  startled  by  the  report  of  a  gun 
from  the  direction  of  the  river,  back  of  Company  H's  quarters. 
I  was  sitting  at  the  foot  of  the  maple-tree  overshadowing  our 
tent,  making  an  entry  in  my  diary,  when,  lifting  my  eyes,  I 
saw  a  crowd  of  men  running  toward  the  spot  in  great  haste 
and  confusion.  '  Somebody  shot ! 7  they  cried,  upon  which  I 
jumped  up  and  ran  with  the  rest.  The  mournful  particulars 
were  as  follows :  A  young  man,  belonging  to  the  Seventeenth 
Indiana,  who  had  fallen  a  short  distance  behind  his  company 
on  its  return  from  Greenbrier,  was  fording  the  river,  and  had 
reached  the  middle  of  the  stream,  when  a  water-snake  suddenly 
darted  out  from  between  his  feet.  Without  stopping  to  take 
a  second  thought,  he  raised  his  gun  and  fired.  Lieutenant 
Bidwell,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  with  several  others,  was  watching 


THE   CAMPAIGN    DRAWS    TO   A   CLOSE.  139 

him  from  the  bank,  and  exclaimed,  '  Do  n't  point  that  gun 
this  way ! '  but  it  was  too  late.  The  ball  glanced  from  the 
water's  surface,  struck  the  unhappy  officer  in  the  right  breast, 
and,  obliquing  upward,  passed  entirely  through  his  body.  He 
staggered  a  moment,  then  fell  into  the  arms  of  a  bystander. 
Blood  was  already  flowing  from  his  mouth  and  nostrils;  he 
never  spoke  more,  and  in  five  minutes  was  a  corpse." 

Thus  Death,  coming  in  unsuspected  guise,  cut  down,  in  the 
flower  of  his  years  and  usefulness,  an  officer  of  unusual  promise. 
Lieutenant  Solomon  J.  Bidwell,  born  in  Bath,  New  York,  in 
1829,  came  to  Cincinnati  in  1857,  and  in  March,  1861,  joined  the 
Independent  Guthrie  Greys,  leaving  a  good  situation  in  the  Job 
Room  of  the  Enquirer  newspaper,  during  the  following  month, 
in  order  to  take  the  field  with  that  organization.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Anderson,  in  a  private  letter,  referred  to  his  death  in 
these  words :  "  A  fearful  accident  has  just  occurred.  Lieutenant 
Bidwell,  noted  for  his  cool  daring  and  prompt  energy,  the 
pride  of  his  company,  and  a  favorite  with  all,  was  shot  dead  by 
the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun  in  the  hands  of  an  Indianian. 
I  heard  the  report,  and  hurried  to  the  spot ;  he  was  already  dead, 
and  the  unhappy  homicide  was  weeping  beside  him.  Poor  fel 
low!  Sadly  should  we  have  regretted  his  loss  upon  the  field 
of  battle ;  but  now  regret  is  mingled  with  feelings  of  the  keen 
est  pity.  Brave,  energetic,  generous,  and  obliging,  he  yet  died 
an  inglorious  death.  Happy  had  the  end  come  amid  hail-shot 
and  the  exploding  shells  of  the  enemy ;  thrice  miserable  to  fall 
by  the  hand  of  a  friend."  The  body,  in  charge  of  a  suitable 
escort,  was  promptly  forwarded  to  Cincinnati,  where  a  young 
widow  and  infant  child  remained  to  mourn  his  loss. 

On  Sunday,  October  6th,  the  Third  and  Sixth  Ohio,  and  a 
portion  of  the  Second  Virginia  (being  the  regiments  left  at 


140  THE    STORY    OF    A   REGIMENT. 

Elkwater  during  the  Greenbrier  expedition)  were  ordered  out 
upon  another  reconnoissance,  accompanied  by  Captain  Robin 
son's  Company  A,  First  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  three  pieces  from 
Loomis'  battery,  all  under  command  of  Colonel  Marrow. 
Starting  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  over  the  same  route  as 
before,  the  expedition  was  promptly  favored  with  the  usual 
rain-storm,  though  it  fortunately  turned  out  to  be  no  more 
than  a  hard  shower,  so  far  as  that  day  was  concerned.  It 
reached  its  place  of  bivouac,  near  Logan's,  two-thirds  of  the 
distance  to  Marshall's  Store,  about  eight  o'clock,  long  before 
which  hour  it  was  quite  dark,  and  a  wagon,  with  four  men  in 
it — as  also  a  member  of  Company  E,  Sixth  Ohio,  at  another 
place — had  fallen  over  a  precipice  twenty  feet  in  perpendic 
ular  height.  Strange  to  relate,  neither  men  nor  horses  received 
serious  injury,  notwithstanding  that  the  wagon,  containing  for 
age  for  the  teams,  was  completely  wrecked.  With  Company 
K,  of  the  Sixth,  and  a  company  of  the  Third  Ohio  thrown  for 
ward  as  advance  guard,  the  column  next  morning  moved  on  to 
Mingo  Flats,  where  the  infantry  and  artillery  were  necessarily 
halted  on  account  of  the  almost  impassable  condition  of  the 
roads  beyond.  No  enemy  was  near,  the  rebels  having  fled  ten 
days  before,  alarmed  by  the  approach  of  the  last  reconnoiter- 
ing  party,  which  they  mistook  for  the  vanguard  of  a  larger 
force  attempting  to  surround  them.  A  portion  of  the  cavalry, 
with  most  of  the  mounted  officers  present,  rode  forward  to  Big 
Springs,  four  miles  further,  where  the  enemy's  main  camp  had 
long  been  situated,  and  found  abundant  evidence  that  the  rebel 
retreat  was  a  hurried  one.  Many  tents  had  been  burnt  or  cut 
into  pieces,  cooking  utensils  were  strewn  over  the  ground, 
gashed  with  great  holes  or  pounded  into  shapeless  masses,  and 
stores  of  all  kinds  had  been  destroyed,  to  the  value  of  thou 
sands  of  dollars.  At  one  place  a  stack  of  arms  had  been  piled 


THE   CAMPAIGN    DRAWS    TO   A    CLOSE.  141 

together  and  burnt,  and  near  by  a  quantity  of  amunition  had 
been  thrown  into  the  creek.  Laden  with  prizes  and  relics  of 
various  descriptions,  the  horsemen  returned  to  Mingo  Flats, 
whereupon  the  entire  command  set  out  for  camp,  in  the  midst 
of  a  cold  drizzle  that  steadily  increased  to  a  pouring  rain,  con 
tinuing  until  near  daylight  next  morning.  The  troops  biv 
ouacked  in  a  narrow  belt  of  pine  woods,  where  the  night  passed 
wretchedly,  in  spite  of  a  good  supper  and  roaring  fires,  and  on 
the  following  day  returned  to  camp. 

About  this  time  Colonel  Kimball's  scouts  discovered  that 
Jackson  had  fallen  back  from  Greenbrier.  The  bulk  of  Lee's 
army,  in  fact,  had  been  put  en  route,  for  another  and  more 
promising  field  of  action,  and  fifty  miles  or  more  of  mountain 
roads  now  stretched  between  General  Reynolds'  division  and 
the  rebel  rear-guard.  The  campaign  was  ended. 


142  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE  TIME  GROWS  SHORT  AT  ELKWATER. 

(OCTOBER  8-NOVEMBER  16,  1861.) 

A  BOUT  two  hours  after  the  return  of  Colonel  Marrow's 
•*A.  expedition,  as  narrated  in  the  last  chapter,  a  cavalcade 
was  seen  coming  up  the  turnpike,  foremost  in  which  rode  the 
long-looked-for  paymaster.  The"  news  spread  like  wild-fire, 
and  in  two  minutes  nearly  the  whole  regiment  was  out  by  the 
road-side,  filling  the  air  with  loud  huzzas.  The  paymaster  was 
Major  Hazleton,  and  the  goodly  train  with  him  consisted  of 
Colonel  Bosley,  who  had  seized  this  favorable  opportunity  to 
ride  up  from  Beverly  and  see  the  regiment ;  Messrs.  Leonard 
Swartz  and  Theodore  Marsh,  well-known  and  gladly-recog 
nized  citizens  of  Cincinnati ;  and  Captain  Menken's  Company 
C,  First  Ohio  Cavalry,  constituting  the  escort  of  the  entire 
party. 

The  troops  were  paid  partly  in  Treasury  notes,  which  many 
of  them  now  handled  for  the  first  time,  and  partly  in  gold — 
the  only  payment  in  specie  which  they  ever  received.  Only  a 
portion  of  the  three-months'  men  in  the  regiment  obtained 
pay  for  their  services  during  that  term;  nor  have  some  of  them 
fared  more  justly  to  this  day.  Messrs.  Swartz  and  Marsh  had 
been  dispatched — the  one  by  the  Commissioners  of  Hamilton 
County,  and  the  other  by  the  City  Council  of  Cincinnati — to 


THE   TIME   GROWS   SHORT   AT   ELKWATER.  143 

receive  the  funds  which,  under  the  allotment  system,  the  Cin 
cinnati  troops  serving  in  Western  Virginia  might  wish  to  send 
home.  Nearly  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the  Sixth  availed 
themselves  of  this  convenient  method  of  remitting  to  their 
friends ;  and,  after  a  stay  of  just  one  week,  the  commissioners 
returned  to  Beverly,  much  gratified  with  the  result  of  their 
visit  to  Elkwater.  The  two  representatives  of  the  press,  C. 
D.  Miller  and  William  G.  Crippen  ("  Invisible  Green  "),  who, 
for  a  fortnight  had  been  writing  up  the  Cheat  Mountain  cam 
paign  for  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  and  Times,  started  home 
about  the  same  time. 

This  seems  to  be  an  appropriate  connection  for  adverting  to 
the  talent  for  newspaper  correspondence  that  existed  within 
the  regiment  itself,  but  which,  after  being  conspicuously  de 
veloped  at  Elkwater,  and  again  by  the  tedium  of  Camp  Wick- 
liife  life,  ceased  to  be  exercised  when  the  regiment  entered 
upon  the  campaign  before  Corinth,  and  seemed  to  be  forgotten 
entirely  amid  the  weary  marches  and  countermarches  which 
filled  the  summer  and  fall  of  1862.  Several  of  the  officers  and 
a  number  of  the  men  had  been  attaches  of  the  various  news 
paper  offices  in  Cincinnati,  whence,  perhaps,  the  origin  of  this 
wide-spread  taste  for  paragraphing  for  the  press.  Thousands 
of  the  friends  of  the  regiment  will  recollect  with  what  interest 
they  read  the  letters  of  "J.  J.  M."  (Lieutenant  Jules  J.  Mon- 
tagnier);  "J.  A.  C."  (Corporal  J.  Addison  Colwell,  of  Com 
pany  G);  and  "Alf  Burnett,"  to  the  Cincinnati  Daily  Press; 
of  the  lamented  Captain  Tatem,  over  the  familiar  signature  of 
"  Zeke,"  contributed  first  to  the  Enquirer,  then  to  the  Times, 
and,  lastly,  to  the  Gazette;  and  of  Captain  Wilmington,  as 
"  Nemo  "  and  "  Haversack,"  writing  for  the  Commercial  and 
Enquirer  respectively.  Of  the  excerpta  from  private  corre 
spondence  that  were  published  from  time  to  time,  the  letters 


144  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

of  Sergeant  George  B.  Nicholson,  of  Company  K,  were  espe 
cially  admired  for  their  graphic  and  truthful  descriptions,  sev 
eral  of  them  being  printed  almost  entire  by  the  Commercial* 
While  the  regiment  was  at  Camp  Wickliife,  the  latter  added 
to  its  list  of  correspondents,  the  unknown  authors  of  several 
communications  signed  "  Orderly"  and  "  High  Private."  Ser 
geant  Herman  E.  W.  Backus,  of  Company  K,  from  Elkwater 
contributed  a  series  of  letters  to  the  Cincinnati  VolJcsblatt, 
which  were  originally  written  in  English,  and,  of  course,  re 
quired  translation  before  they  became  available  for  use  in  that 
journal. 

Illy  timing  with  the  paymaster's  welcome  advent,  came  the 
announcement  of  a  special  order  that  dashed  to  the  ground  the 
high  hopes  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  beginning  to  entertain  of  a 
speedy  transfer  to  Kentucky  (where  armies  were  now  marshal 
ing  and  the  shock  of  arms  seemed  close  at  hand),  and  divided 
the  Cheat  Mountain  division  into  three  brigades,  respectively 
commanded  by  General  Reynolds  and  the  two  new  brigadiers, 
Milroy  and  Dumont.  To  the  last  named  was  assigned  the 
Third  and  Sixth  Ohio,  the  Second  Virginia,  and  his  own  regi 
ment,  the  Seventh  Indiana.  The  Fifteenth  and  Seventeenth 
Indiana,  which  .remained  under  Reynolds,  soon  afterward 
moved  back  to  Huttonsville,  and  Dumont's  brigade  was  left 
alone  in  its  glory,  and  in  what  was  vastly  more  tangible — the 
ever-deepening  mud  of  Elkwater. 

Active  campaigning  being  over,  the  routine  duties  of  camp 
life  began  to  receive  greater  attention,  company  and  battal 
ion  drills  were  resumed,  guard  mounting  was  reestablished  in 

*  At  least  two  or  three  of  these  were  copied  from  the  Commercial  into 
Frank  Moore's  Rebellion  Record. 


THE   TIME   GROWS   SHORT  AT   ELKWATER.  145 

due  form,  and  dress  parades  were  daily  held  at  retreat,  with 
as  much  regularity  as  the  weather  would  permit.  The  monot 
ony  which  from  this  time  forth  characterized  affairs  at  Elk- 
water,  contrasted  strikingly  with  the  previous  activity,  and  soon 
grew  irksome  indeed.  Practically,  the  troops  were  thrown 
entirely  upon  their  own  resources  for  recreation  during  the 
long,  dull  weeks  of  October  and  November;  for  who  could 
expect  that  the  young  ladies  at  Crouch's  and  Esquire  Stalna- 
ker's  could  or  would  furnish  entertainment  for  a  whole  brigade? 
— and  no  other  families  were  accessible  from  camp,  except  to 
the  lucky  wight  who  was  armed  with  a  pass.  Chestnutting 
and  exploring  expeditions  ;  trout  fishing  and  bathing ;  chuck- 
a-luck,  seven-up,  and  what  not  modes  of  gambling  besides ; 
checker-playing,  with  chess — kingliest  of  games;  these,  and 
the  like,  commanded  general  attention,  and  were  practiced 
daily.  But  pipe-making  was  the  supreme  passion.  Thicker 
even  than  the  bushwhackers  they  sheltered  during  the  war  are 
the  laurel  bushes  that  grow  on  every  mountain  side  and  by 
every  running  stream  throughout  West  Virginia.  These  the 
men  dug  up  by  the  hundred,  and  from  the  roots  made  hand 
some  and  durable  pipes,  many  of  which  were  sent  home,  and 
are,  doubtless,  still  preserved  as  valued  souvenirs  of  the  soldier- 
life  of  those  loved  ones  whose  handiwork  .they  were.  To 
illustrate  the  spirit  of  emulation  which  carried  the  art  of  piper 
carving  to  great  perfection  in  the  Sixth  Ohio,  it  may  be  men 
tioned  that  one  of  the  field  officers  gave  a  private  in  Company 
I  a  sum  amounting  to  nearly  two  months'  pay  for  a  pipe  fin 
ished  in  a  style  of  superlative  elegance.  One  event  of  per 
petual  anticipation  and  ever  new  delight,  at  this  period,  was 
the  distribution  of  the  mail,  which  at  first  was  sent  up  daily 
by  mounted  carrier  from  Huttonsville,  but,  as  the  roads  grew 
worse,  came  only  tri- weekly,  until,  one  night,  unable  to  endure 
10 


146  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

even  this  service,  the  wretched  mail-horse  in  despair  lay  down 
and  died,  after  which  the  mail-bags  had  to  take  their  chances 
for  reaching  Elkwater  along  with  hard-tack  and  sutler's  stores. 
Oftentimes  they  were  brought  up  by  the  regimental  ox-team, 
which,  in  consequence,  became  the  object  of  general  affection, 
under  the  favorite  title  of  "  Peck's  Mail  Express." 

On  the  13th  of  October,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  re 
ceived  a  note  from  Captain  Bense,  announcing  the  arrival  of 
himself  and  fellow-prisoners  at  Richmond.  "  We  have  seen  a 
little  of  life,"  it  said,  "since  we  left  camp,  and  expect  to  see 
more.  Give  our  respects  to  the  regiment.  We  are  all  in  good 
spirits." 

On  the  12th  of  October,  Captain  Westcott  and  Sergeant  J. 
F.  Graham,  of  Company  E,  started  for  Cincinnati.  Dr.  Lov 
ing  resigned  at  the  same  date,  and  soon  afterward  returned  to 
his  home  and  practice  in  Columbus,  followed  by  the  respect 
and  good  wishes  of  the  entire  command.  Lieutenant  Biller- 
beck  resigned  about  the  same  time,  and  left  the  regiment  on 
the  18th. 

In  the  midst  of  the  glories  of  Indian  summer,  there  were 
many  presages  of  winter;  and,  while  the  nights  grew  cold, 
and  "the  melancholy  days,  saddest  of  the  year,"  came  on 
apace,  the  Sixth-  Ohio,  in  common  with  other  troops  on  the 
Cheat  Mountain  front,  was  sadly  in  need  of  clothing,  since  the 
depot  quartermasters  neither  had  supplies  on  hand  nor  seemed 
able  to  procure  any.  As  early  as  the  1st  of  October,  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Anderson  telegraphed  Governor  Dennison  as  fol 
lows : 

HUTTONSVILLE,  VA.,  October  1,  1861. 

Governor  Dennison  : 

The  Sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers  is  in  a  freezing  condition ; 
forced  marches  innumerable,  and  constant  service  have  rendered 


THE   TIME   GROWS  SHORT   AT   ELK  WATER.  147 

the  men  ragged.  The  severe  cold  of  the  mountain  paralyzes  them. 
Can  not  we  be  relieved  by  our  State  ?  Utterly  without  pay  for 
five  months'  actual  service,  can  not  we  at  least  be  saved  from  des 
titution?  In  clothing  we  want  overcoats,  trousers,  and  blankets. 
We  have  none  of  these,  and  two  hundred  and  twelve  men  do  duty 
in  their  drawers  alone.  Sleep  is  never  enjoyed  at  night,  on  ac 
count  of  the  cold.  N.  L.  ANDERSON, 

Lieutenant-  Colonel. 

This  urgent  appeal  had  the  desired  effect  of  enlisting  the 
active  exertions  of  the  State  Executive  on  behalf  of  the  half- 
clad  soldiery  in  Western  Virginia.  Governor  Dennison 
promptly  replied  as  follows : 

COLUMBUS,  October  1,  1861. 
N.  L.  Anderson,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers,  Hut- 

tonsville,Va,: 

I  have  sent  a  copy  of  your  telegram  to  Quartermaster-General 
Meigs,  and  to  General  Rosecrans,  to  whom,  Captain  Dickerson 
writes  me,  he  has  sent  clothing  and  blankets  for  all  Ohio  troops 
in  Virginia.  Communicate  with  General  Rosecrans.  If  not  sup 
plied,  advise  me.  W.  DENNISON. 

In  answer  to  the  Governor's  telegram,  General  Rosecrans 
gave  the  following  epitome  of  the  state  of  affairs : 

TOP  OF  BIG  SEWALL,  VA.,  October  3,  1861. 
Governor  Dennison: 

Line  just  opened  last  evening.  Captain  Dickerson  has  given  me 
some  information  in  general  terms  as  to  clothing.  Presume  it  is 
at  Grafton  or  Wheeling ;  have  telegraphed  to  ascertain,  and  or-- 
dered  supplies  to  be  sent  down  the  line  so  soon  as  transportation 
can  be  got.  Provisions  and  ammunition  have  taken  all  we  could 
spare.  Roads  horrid  throughout  all  Western  Virginia.  Trains 
do  not  average  more  than  nine  or  ten  miles  a  day,  or  carry  over 


148  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

seven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  besides  feed  for  wagon.  Cold, 
exposure,  and  hard  fare  use  up  our  transportation  very  rapidly. 
We  shall,  by  some  means,  soon  supply  our  troops  with  clothing. 

W.  S.  ROSECRANS, 

Brigadier-  General, 

Ten  days  having  elapsed  without  any  satisfactory  assurances 
of  speedy  relief,  Quartermaster  Shoemaker  was  dispatched  to 
Cincinnati,  with  instructions  not  to  return  until  the  needed 
supplies  had  been  obtained.  But,  meantime,  the  quick  sym 
pathies  of  the  Cincinnati  public  had  been  aroused  on  behalf 
of  the  Cheat  Mountain  division,  and  the  feeling  having  taken 
a  practical  shape  in  regard  to  the  "  Guthrie  Greys/7  as  the 
Sixth  Ohio  was  still  popularly  known  at  home,  the  result  is 
gratefully  recorded  by  the  regimental  letter-writers  in  nu 
merous  paragraphs,  like  the  following : 

"  Messrs.  Larz  Anderson  and  John  Stetinius  arrived  a  week 
ago,  bringing  with  them  the  contributions,  public  and  private, 
to  our  regiment,  which  consisted  of  blankets,  shirts,  drawers, 
stockings,  gloves,  etc.,  and  were  much  needed  by  all.  They 
were  hailed  with  delight.  Mr.  Anderson,  who  has  ever  ex 
hibited  the  warmest  interest  in  the  welfare  of  our  regiment, 
never  comes  without  laying  us  under  new  obligations  for  his 
kindness ;  and  when  he  left,  the  other  evening,  the  boys,  get 
ting  a  glimpse  of  his  unostentatious  departure,  cheered  till  he 
had  disappeared  in  the  distance.  To  all  our  friends,  in  fact, 
who  have  contributed  so  much  to  our  comfort,  do  we  wish  to 
return  our  sincere  thanks.  They  have  not  only  clothed  the 
naked,  but  have  warmed  the  hearts  of  those  who  felt  they  were 
neglected,  and  given  them  energy  to  encounter  new  dangers 
and  hardships  in  the  cause  we  all  feel  to  be  sacred."* 

*J.  A.  C.,  October  28,  1861. 


THE  TIME  GROWS  SHORT  AT  ELK  WATER.      149 

It  was  a  raw,  gloomy  day,  when  the  Cincinnati  donations 
were  distributed,  and  the  wind  blew  in  cold,  wintry  gusts, 
while  in  the  intervals  between,  great  fugitive  flakes  of  snow 
came  sailing  drearily  to  the  earth;  but  the  men  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  that  day,  were  happy  as  kings. 

"A  few  days  more,"  says  another  correspondent,*  "brought 
us  our  energetic  quartermaster,  Lieutenant  Shoemaker,  with 
full  supplies  of  clothing,  which  it  may  not  be  improper  for  the 
citizens  of  Cincinnati  to  know  he  was  enabled  to  get  through 
General  Mitchel,  whose  requisition  upon  Captain  Dickerson 
[Depot  Quartermaster  at  Cincinnati]  was  promptly  and  cheer 
fully  made.  It  is  also  due  to  Governor  Dennison  to  say  that 
he  manifested  the  greatest  anxiety  to  have  the  necessities  of 
the  regiment  relieved,  and  that  he  forcibly  and  effectively  rep 
resented  our  wants  to  General  Mitchel." 

There  was  now  no  better  clad  regiment  in  the  department. 
A  few  days  of  beautiful  autumn  weather  succeeded,  and,  in  the 
midst  of  these  fortuitous  circumstances,  Major  Slemmer  ap 
peared  at  Elkwater  to  inspect  the  regiments  of  Dumont's 
brigade.  Not  only  because  it  was  the  first  regular  and  system 
atic  inspection  by  a  specially  appointed  inspecting  officer,  as  it 
was  to  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  most  of  the  other  regiments,  but 
in  the  belief,  as  well,  that  a  favorable  report  would  greatly  in 
crease  the  chances  for  a  transfer  to  Kentucky,  great  prepara 
tions  were  made  for  the  occasion,  which  finally  occurred  on  the 
29th  of  October,  and  passed  off  with  credit  to  the  entire  com 
mand. 

For  the  greater  part  of  two  or  three  weeks,  about  this  time, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  was  absent  on  court-martial  duty 

*J.  J.  M.,  October  30,  1861.  The  quotation  is  condensed  from  the 
original  text  to  a  limited  extent 


150  THE  STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

at  Huttonsville,  and  Major  Christopher  was  thus  left  in  com 
mand  of  the  regiment.  On  the  31st  of  October,  Dr.  Loving's 
successor  as  surgeon  reached  Elkwater,  then  and  there  begin 
ning  a  long  and  faithful  service  at  the  front,  winch  is  inter 
woven  into  the  very  texture  of  the  regiment's  subsequent 
history. 

Alfred  Henry  Stephens  was  born  September  26th,  1818,  and 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  A.  H.  Baker,  graduating,  in  the 
spring  of  1846,  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  in  Cincinnati. 
He  was  practicing  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  when  the  rebellion 
first  "  raised  its  hideous  front,"  and,  warmly  sympathizing  with 
the  national  cause,  proffered  his  services  to  Governor  Denni- 
son,  by  whom  he  was  invited  to  present  himself  before  the 
State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners,  at  Columbus,  which  he 
accordingly  did,  on  the  10th  of  September.  The  character  of 
the  examination  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that,  out  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  candidates,  only  thirty-five  were  passed  for 
surgeons,  and  about  fifty-five  for  assistant  surgeons.  Being 
among  the  former  class,  Dr.  Stephens  was  mustered  as  Sur 
geon  of  the  Forty -fifth  Ohio,  on  the  llth  of  October,  and  im 
mediately  started  for  Gallipolis,  whither  he  had  been  ordered 
to  follow  Surgeon-General  (afterward  Brigadier-General)  Mc 
Millan,  and  where  he  found  that  his  services  were  urgently 
needed,  in  consequence  of  a  large  number  of  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  having  been  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  thrown  into 
that  post  from  the  army  in  West  Virginia.  He  remained  there 
about  two  weeks,  hard  at  work,  and  prescribing  daily  for  two 
hundred  patients,  when,  on  the  morning  of  October  20th,  he 
received  a  dispatch  from  Assistant  Adjutant-General  Rodney 
Mason,  announcing  his  transfer  to  the  Sixth  Ohio,  with  in 
structions  to  report  at  Camp  Elkwater  without  delay. 


THE   TIME   GROWS   SHORT   AT   ELKWATER.  151 

"This  little  telegram,"  says  Dr.  Stephens,*  whom  we  must 
now  permit  to  tell  his  own  story,  "  naturally  gave  me  a  de 
sire  to  know  something  of  the  character  of  the  Sixth  Ohio. 
Upon  inquiring  of  certain  among  my  patients,  who  professed 
to  be  well  informed  on  the  subject,  what  was  my  surprise  and 
sorrow  to  be  told  that  it  was  known  in  the  field  as  the  i  Calico 
Regiment ; '  in  short,  that  the  officers  and  men  were  clerks  of 
dry  goods  houses  and  fancy  stores  of  Cincinnati,  or  fast  young 
men  about  town,  who  had  been  induced  to  join  the  army  with 
the  understanding  that  they  were  all  to  have  easy  places,  with 
little  to  do,  and  plenty  to  eat  and  drink !  With  no  very  favor 
able  impression  of  my  new  regiment,  I  obtained  transportation, 
and,  without  adventure,  reached  Grafton,  where  I  was  fortu 
nate  enough  to  meet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Beatty,  of  the  Third 
Ohio  (afterward  Brigadier-General),  through  whose  kindness 
I  was  given  a  wagon  and  again  started  on  my  way  rejoicing, 
to  be  landed  on  the  third  day  at  Huttonsville.  Here  I  found 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  of  the  Sixth — a  boy  in  appear 
ance,  but  a  man  in  every  thing  that  constitutes  a  soldier.  Col 
onel  Anderson  sent  a  note  to  Major  Christopher,  who  was  tem 
porarily  in  charge  of  the  regiment,  asking  him  to  '  send  up 
transportation  for  three  hundred  pounds  of  Doctor !  '  The 
next  day  I  was  accordingly  deposited  at  Elkwater,  in  the 
midst  of  the  famed  '  Calico  Regiment/  and  left  to  form  quite 
new  opinions  of  its  qualities. 

"  This  camp  will  remain  indelibly  impressed  on  the  memory 
of  every  man  of  the  Sixth,  for  its  enormity  of  mud  and  for  the 
characteristics  of  the  natives.  The  Stalnaker  family,  especi 
ally,  what  member  of  the  regiment  will  ever  forget? 

"I  found  in  the  regimental  hospital,  which  was  tolerably 

*  Private  manuscript 


152  THE  STORY  OF  A  REGIMENT. 

well  supplied  with  medicines  and  such  dietetics  as  the  Govern 
ment  furnished,  fourteen  sick  and  two  wounded.  The  latter 
were  private  Helflicker,  the  victim  of  the  Stewart's  Eun  dis 
aster,  and  Hannibal  M.  Hopkins,  a  member  of  Company  H, 
who  was  badly  crushed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree,  on  the  6th  of 
October,  but  eventually  recovered.  The  sanitary  condition  of 
the  camp  was  as  good  as  it  well  could  be  in  that  locality.  On 
comparing  the  health  of  the  Sixth  with  that  of  the  other  com 
mands,  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  it  had  less  than  half  the 
number  in  hospital  that  the  next  healthiest  regiment  had, 
and  only  one-fourth  as  many  out-patients.  Dr.  Ames,  as 
sistant  surgeon,  had  been  in  charge  since  the  resignation  of 
Dr.  Loving." 

The  remarkable  healthfulness  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  which  uni 
formly  secured  for  it  the  favorable  notice  of  its  brigade  com 
manders  and  others,  did  not  escape  the  attention  of  General 
Reynolds,  who  touches  upon  what  was  undoubtedly  one  of  its 
principal  causes,  in  these  words  :*  u  In  camp,  the  Sixth  was 
noted  for  its  cheerfulness,  and,  although  not  always  quiet, 
could  by  no  means  be  called  disorderly.  Its  members  seemed 
fully  to  appreciate  the  fact  that  fiddling  is  far  better  than 
physic  for  exorcising  the  blues."  There  were  two  deaths 
by  disease  during  the  regiment's  five  months'  service  in 
West  Virginia,  namely,  private  Charles  Vanway,  of  Com 
pany  D,  who  died  on  the  22d  of  October,  and  was  buried  next 
day,  the  chaplain  of  the  Seventh  Indiana  officiating  at  the 
funeral,  and  private  Hermann  Volkers,  of  Company  C,  who 
died  on  the  night  of  the  24th.  Major  Christopher  read  the 
Episcopal  burial  service  at  the  grave  of  the  latter,  with 
marked  impressiveness. 

*  Private  manuscript. 


THE   TIME   GROWS   SHORT   AT   ELKWATER.  153 

"While  so  nearly  exempt  from  the  inroads  of  disease,  how 
ever,  the  regiment  was  losing  a  number  of  its  best  soldiers  from 
another  cause,  but  that  a  most  honorable  one,  namely,  dis 
charges  for  promotion.  More  than  thirty  men  were  taken 
from  the  ranks  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  during  the  first  six  months 
of  its  service,  to  officer  other  regiments,  of  which  number  fully 
two-thirds  were  from  Company  A.  In  some  instances  these 
appointments  were  to  positions  in  the  regular  army. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  the  Thirteenth  Indiana  passed 
through  Elkwater,  upon  a  scouting  expedition,  with  five  days' 
rations.  It  was  out  nine  days,  however,  in  that  time  march 
ing  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  and  penetrating  far  beyond 
the  Union  lines,  but  without  encountering  any  enemy,  except  a 
few  straggling  bands  of  guerrillas,  and  finally  returned  to  its 
camp  near  Huttonsville,  by  way  of  Middle  Fork  Bridge  and 
Beverly. 

Kindly  did  autumn  linger  among  the  mountains  of  West 
Virginia;  yet  the  time  soon  came  when  the  most  hopeful  heart 
at  Elkwater  could  not  but  realize  that  winter  was  closing  in. 
Drill  grounds  became  spreading  acres  of  mud,  and  camp,  in 
spite  of  ditching  and  abundant  drainage,  was  scarcely  better, 
while  the  roads  were  bottomless.  The  teams  grew  thin  and 
thinner  up  to  the  very  day  when  they  were  finally  exchanged 
for  the  hardier  race  of  mules,  many  of  whom  died  that  winter, 
(in  spite  of  the  farmer's  proverb  that  "a  mule  never  dies/7)  and 
left  their  skeletons,  half-buried  in  mud,  to  bleach  along  the 
road-sides.  At  last,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  November, 
as  the  troops  looked  toward  Cheat  Mountain,  they  saw  it  white 
and  glistening  with  snow. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  Company  G  struck  tents  and  went 
to  Beverly,  there  relieving  Company  H,  of  the  Fifth  Ohio ; 
which  regiment  moved  eastward,  to  a  career  of  thrice-deserved 


154  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

renown,  and  the  Sixth  saw  no  more  of  it  until  a  few  weeks 
before  Hooker's  immortal  battle  "among  the  clouds,"  where, 
for  the  first  time,  the  two  commands  fought  within  sound  of 
each  other's  guns. 

The  Third  Ohio  had  already  began  building  log-huts  for 
winter-quarters,  never  ceasing,  however,  to  hope  for  orders 
that  should  take  the  regiment  far  enough  away  before  they 
were  ready  for  occupancy.  The  men  of  the  Sixth  contented 
themselves  with  building  sod  fire-places,  and  in  other  ways 
fitting  up  their  canvas  tents  as  comfortably  as  possible.  Oh, 
for  the  word  that  should  liberate  them  from  that  bleak  and 
isolated  region,  and  restore  them  to  life  and  action  again  in  a 
land  of  civilization  !  If  Kentucky  were  only  made  their  des 
tination,  they  would  be  sure  to  go  by  way  of  Cincinnati, 
where,  of  course,  a  few  hours'  halt  would  be  allowed  them,  and 
once  more  they  would  see  their  homes,  with  all  the  loved  ones 
who  made  home  dear.  It  was  a  pleasant,  pleasant  dream,  but 
would  it  be  realized  ? 

On  the  15th  of  November,  a  snow-storm  came  sweeping 
down  upon  Elkwater,  and  the  weather  then  turned  cold.  Still 
no  marching  orders. 


VIRGINIA;  FAREWELL!  155 


CHAPTER   XII. 
VIRGINIA,    FAREWELL! 

(NOVEMBER  17-DECEMBER  7, 1861.) 

BY  the  third  week  in  November,  the  log-huts  of  the  Third 
Ohio  were  rapidly  approaching  completion,  and  other 
regiments  were  beginning  to  wish  that  they  had  exercised  the 
same  degree  of  forethought,  when  suddenly  all  was  changed 
at  Elkwater.  Soon  after  dark,  on  Sunday  night,  November 
17th,  prolonged  and  deafening  cheers,  with  the  roll  of  drums, 
were  heard  from  the  camp  of  the  Third  Ohio,  which  regi 
ment,  as  wras  soon  ascertained,  had  received  marching  orders. 
When  would  the  same  glorious  tidings  greet  the  Sixth?  That 
evening  nothing  else  could  be  talked  of;  and  even  an  hour 
after  taps  the  animated  voices  of  little  groups  might  be  heard 
around  the  smoldering  fires,  out  in  the  cold,  calm  moonlight, 
or  within  the  closed  tents,  all  discussing  the  same  absorbing 
topic. 

The  Third  Ohio  was  stirring  bright  and  early  next  morn 
ing;  but  it  had  not  yet  filed  down  the  road,  when  another 
tremendous  outburst  of  cheers  announced  that  the  Sixth  also 
was  ordered  to  Kentucky,  and,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson 
rejoining  the  regiment  from  Huttonsville  about  10  A.  M., 
preparations  for  the  march  went  on  briskly.  The  tents  were 
inspected  and  condemned  by  a  board  constituted  for  that  pur- 


156  THE  STORY  OF  A  REGIMENT. 

pose,  and,  when  the  regiment  moved  next  day,  they  were  left 
standing  in  camp.  Of  the  sick,  a  portion  were  sent  to  gen 
eral  hospital  at  Beverly ;  the  rest  remained  at  Elkwater  a 
few  days  longer,  under  charge  of  Dr.  Ames.  It  was  a  busy, 
happy  day  for  the  Sixth  Ohio.  How  the  men  reveled  in  their 
anticipations  of  the  future ;  of  that  so  near  at  hand,  especially 
— only  a  few  days  more  at  farthest — when  they  would  proudly 
march  through  Cincinnati,  and  be  reunited,  for  a  brief  season, 
with  the  dear  ones,  from  whom  they  had  been  separated  so  many 
months.  Oh,  how  long,  in  retrospect,  those 'weary  months  did 
seem !  A  frosty,  moonlight  evening  succeeded,  and  with  what 
zest  the  men  hailed  the  approach  of  their  last  night  at  Elkwa 
ter!  Camp  was  hilarious — with  such  a  scene  as  the  old  maples, 
rising  gaunt  and  bare  overhead,  had  never  before  witnessed. 
The  band  of  the  Seventh  Indiana,  which  came  over  to  sere 
nade  the  officers,  played  "  Home,  Sweet  Home ! " — not  once 
merely,  nor  twice,  but  over  and  over  again ;  and  surely  never 
did  that  sweetest  of  all  airs  seem  so  touchingly  beautiful  as 
then. 

Tuesday  morning,  November  19th,  was  cold,  but  clear,  and 
the  ground  frozen  hard.  Though  reveille  beat  early,  the  reg 
iment  did  not  get  fairly  under  way  until  near  ten  o'clock,  the 
men  carrying  heavy  knapsacks,  plethoric  now  with  winter 
clothing  and  many  little  extras  from  home.  Under  a  bright 
sun,  the  ground  thawed  rapidly,  and  the  road  grew  very 
heavy,  so  that  it  was  noon  before  the  column  reached  Hut- 
tonsville.  As  it  passed  the  camp  of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana, 
after  a  short  halt  for  dinner,  the  men  of  that  regiment  crowded 
out  to  the  guard-line  and  cheered  it  heartily.  Gallant,  ragged 
veterans  of  the  Thirteenth,  whose  destiny  led  them  to  fields 
far  eastward,  where  they  achieved  a  proud  fame  throughout 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac — the  Sixth  Ohio  never  saw  them 


VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL!  157 

afterward.  On  such  a  march  straggling  was  inevitable.  From 
dark  until  near  midnight,  squads  of  weary  soldiery  were  plod 
ding  into  Beverly,  while  numbers  lay  down  at  the  bridge, 
three  miles  out,  and  elsewhere  along  the  road,  and  slept  until 
morning. 

Comfortably  quartered  in  empty  houses,  the  regiment  rested  at 
Beverly  during  the  whole  of  Wednesday,  and,  additional  wagons 
having  been  obtained,  the  men's  knapsacks  were  sent  forward 
to  Clarksburg,  under  the  escort  of  Company  G,  which,  from 
its  having  come  to  Beverly  some  time  before,  had  escaped  the 
laborious  march  from  Elkwater. 

Reaching  Beverly  on  Monday  evening,  the  Third  Ohio,  on 
the  following  morning,  had  pushed  on  toward  Buckhannon, 
in  light  marching  order,  by  which  means  it  was  now  two 
days  in  advance  of  the  Sixth.  The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 
started  from  Cheat  Mountain  Summit  on  the  same  day  that 
the  Third  left  Elkwater,  but  did  not  pass  Beverly  until  the 
second  evening.  Other  regiments  were  soon  afterward  moved 
to  the  rear,  most  of  them  to  reenforce  General  Buell  in  Ken 
tucky;  and  the  Cheat  Mountain  district,  although  held  by 
Milroy's  brigade  until  early  in  the  following  spring,  never 
became  the  theater  of  important  military  operations  again. 

General  Dumont  subsequently  served  in  Kentucky  and  Ten 
nessee,  and  finally  resigned  to  take  a  seat  in  the  Thirty-eighth 
Congress,  to  which  he  was  elected  from  the  Sixth  District  of 
Indiana,  in  October,  1862. 

Resigning  in  January,  1862,  General  Reynolds  returned  to 
Indiana,  where  he  spent  several  months  in  assisting  to  raise 
and  organize  new  regiments  for  the  field,  and,  by  request  of 
Governor  Morton  and  Major-General  H.  G.  Wright,  was  pres 
ent,  in  an  advisory  capacity,  at  both  Louisville  and  Cincinnati, 


158  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

when  those  cities  were  threatened  by  the  rebels,  in  September, 

1862.  On  the  29th  of  November,  1862,  after  having  declined 
a  re- appointment  as  Brigadier-General,  he  was  commissioned 
Major-General  of  Volunteers,  and,  reporting  promptly  to  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans,  was  at  once  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
Twelfth  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland — then  in 
the  "  Centre,"  under  General  Thomas.   During  the  Stone  River 
campaign,   his   division,   although   not  ordered   up  with   the 
main  army,  did  good  service  by  executing  a  cooperative  move 
ment  from  Gallatin  into  Kentucky  for  the  protection  of  the 
Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad.     From  January  to  Octo 
ber,  1863,  he  commanded  the  Fourth  Division,  of  the  Four 
teenth  Army  Corps,  by  which  the  affair  at  Hoover's  Gap,  in 
the  advance  upon  Tullahoma,  was  mainly  fought.    Of  General 
Reynolds'  services  at  Chickamauga,  which  were  most  conspic 
uous  and  intrepid,  we  shall  have  occasion  to  speak  in  the 
regular  course  of  our  narrative. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  upon 
the  accession  of  General  Thomas  to  its  command,  in  October, 

1863,  General  Reynolds  was  appointed  Chief  of  Staff;  in  which 
capacity,  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  and 
other  engagements  before  Chattanooga,  on  the  23d,  24th,  and 
25th  of  November  following.     In  December,  he  was  ordered 
to  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  and  remained  in  command  of 
the  defenses  of  New  Orleans  during  the  first  five  and  a  half 
months  of  1864.     From  the  16th  of  June  to  August,  1864, 
he  commanded  the  "  U.  S.  Forces  in  the  Field,"  in  the  De 
partment  of  the  Gulf,  being  principally  engaged  in  organiz 
ing  troops  to  operate  against  Mobile,  and,  during  this  period, 
was  assigned  (in  July)  to  the  command  of  the  Nineteenth 
Corps,  two  divisions  of  which  (originally  intended  for  Mobile) 
were  soon  afterward  embarked  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 


VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL!  159 

From  the  remainder  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  and  the  former 
Thirteenth  Corps,  General  Reynolds  then  organized  about  fifteen 
hundred  men,  and  transferred  them  to  Major-General  Gordon 
Granger,  to  cooperate  in  the  capture  of  Forts  Gaines  and  Mor 
gan,  in  Mobile  Bay.  The  last  three  months  of  1864  found 
him  in  command  of  the  troops  stationed  along  the  Mississippi, 
from  Memphis  to  the  Gulf,  whose  duty  it  was  to  prevent  the 
rebel  forces  west  of  the  river  from  crossing  to  the  assistance 
of  their  sore-pressed  comrades  further  east.  By  assignment  of 
the  President,  he  commanded,  during  a  portion  of  this  time, 
the  Military  Division  of  West  Mississippi,  Major-General  Can- 
by  having  been  temporarily  disabled  by  a  wound.  He  was 
next  assigned  to  the  Department  of  Arkansas,  and  the  Sev 
enth  Army  Corps ;  and  this  command  (except  in  so  far  as  it 
was  modified  by  the  disbandment  of  the  Seventh  Corps  at  the 
close  of  the  war)  he  held  until  the  summer  of  1866.  Gen 
eral  Reynolds'  later  service  has  been  in  the  South-west,  prin 
cipally  in  the  States  of  Louisiana  and  Texas. 

At  Beverly,  Colonel  Bosley  re-assumed  command  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  and  Captain  Tatem  and  Adjutant  Heron  rejoined 
it  also,  from  absence  in  Cincinnati,  upon  sick  leave.  The  du 
ties  of  the  latter  officer  had  been  very  ably  discharged,  during 
the  interim,  by  Lieutenant  Donovan. 

By  sunrise  of  Thursday,  November  21st,  the  regiment  was 
again  in  motion,  the  men  being  in  buoyant  spirits,  and  about 
ten  o'clock  reached  Hart's  farm,  on  the  summit  of  Rich  Mount 
ain,  where  it  halted  for  a  few  minutes  upon  the  battle-ground. 
Some  of  the  rude  breastworks  thrown  up  by  the  rebels  still  re 
mained,  and  the  scars  of  cannon-shot,  with  the  marks  of  axes 
used  by  relic-hunters  to  cut  out  bullets  from  the  trees,  were 
visible  on  all  sides.  The  column  rested  for  dinner  at  Roaring 


160  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Run,  the  sun  shining  warm  and  pleasant,  and,  after  three 
hours  more  of  leisurely  marching,  went  into  bivouac  in  the 
woods,  about  half  way  to  Buckhannon,  where,  as  the  night 
was  cold,  and  the  men  had  no  axes  for  chopping  fire-wDod, 
the  best  sleep  that  any  obtained  was  a  succession  of  shivering 
naps. 

When  reveille  blew,  at  3  A.  M.,  of  what  was  now  Novem 
ber  22d,  the  moon  was  shining  brightly,  and  over  a  hard- 
frozen  road  the  troops  set  out  rapidly,  passing  Middle  Fork 
Bridge,  where  the  patriot  Johns  was  killed  on  the  6th  of  July, 
in  the  gray  of  twilight,  and,  after  toiling  up  the  long,  steep 
hill  beyond,  they  were  just  beginning  to  descend  the  western 
slope  when  the  rising  sun  flashed  upon  the  scene,  in  gorgeous 
and  unclouded  splendor.  They  reached  Buckhannon  about 
noon,  after  a  march  of  nearly  sixteen  miles.  Quartered  in 
the  public  buildings  of  the  town,  a  Methodist  Church  among 
the  number,  they  rejoiced  to  find  themselves  again  in  a  com 
munity  where  intelligence  and  loyalty  predominated,  and  were 
soon  quite  at  home.  In  the  evening,  two  days'  rations  were 
issued,  consisting,  in  part,  of  a  small  allowance  of  fresh  bread — 
a  luxury  indeed  to  men  who  had  lived  upon  hard-tack  and 
slap-jacks  for  four  months  and  a  half;  and  during  the  night 
a  blustering  nor'-wester  began  to  blow,  driving  before  it  a 
cold,  white  sleet. 

Of  the  two  or  three  turnpike  routes  from  Buckhannon  to 
Clarksburg,  that  by  way  of  Weston,  thirty-eight  miles  in  all, 
is  the  least  direct;  and,  for  that  very  reason  having  been 
less  worn  by  Government  trains,  it  was  at  this  time  decidedly 
the  preferable  one.  Both  the  Third  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 
went  directly  through  Weston;  but  the  Sixth,  on  the  23d, 
merely  sent  its  trains  thither,  while  the  main  body  struck 
across  the  country  to  Jane  Lew,  which  is  the  singular  name 


VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL!  161 

of  a  hamlet  situated  on  the  turnpike  between  Clarksburg  and 
Weston,  and  distant  from  the  latter  place  about  seven  miles. 
The  Twenty-fourth,  for  the  last  thirty-six  hours,  had  been 
leading  the  Sixth  by  but  half  a  day's  journey,  and  as  the  lat 
ter  saved  at  least  six  miles  by  this  piece  of  strategy,  it  was 
only  by  terrible  marching  that  Colonel  Ammen  succeeded  in 
keeping  the  advance,  which  told  the  more  severely  on  his 
men,  as  they  all  carried  knapsacks,  and  bivouacked  regularly 
in  the  open  air.  At  Jane  Lew,  the  left  wing  of  the  Sixth 
quartered  in  Mitchell's  mill,  and  the  right  wing  in  various 
houses  near  by ;  the  day's  march  had  been  a  light  and  com 
fortable  one  of  sixteen  miles. 

The  following  day,  November  24th,  was  Sunday.  The 
weather  had  grown  cold  since  the  storm  of  Friday  night,  and 
when  the  column  formed  at  day-break,  the  ground  was  cov 
ered  with  a  light  snow,  and  great  feathery  flakes  were  falling 
still.  Sixteen  miles  more  to  Clarksburg !  Thanks  to  a  road 
in  good  condition,  the  season  of  the  year  and  the  weather 
being  taken  into  consideration,  the  regiment  completed  the 
distance  a  few  minutes  after  twelve  o'clock,  and,  after  stand 
ing  for  some  time  in  a  dense  snow-storm,  was  dismissed  to* 
the  quarters  provided  in  the  court-house  and  other  public 
buildings;  at  the  former  of  which  the  knapsacks  were  found 
piled  up  in  the  rotunda,  quite  safe  under  the  guardianship  of 
Company  G. 

The  Third  Ohio  reached  Clarksburg  the  day  previous,  and, 
after  having  been  paid  off  by  Major  Hazleton,  who  sat  up  all 
night  to  finish  the  task,  about  two  hours  before  the  arrival  of 
the  Sixth  it  had  started,  by  rail,  for  Parkersburg,  there  to  take 
boat  for  Louisville.  As  for  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  which, 
at  dark  on  Saturday  evening,  went  into  bivouac  by  the  road- 
side,  about  six  miles  from  Jane  Lew,  it  had  been  roused  at 
11 


162  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

1  A.  M.,  and  by  daylight  was  in  Clarksburg,  where  it  marched 
through  the  town  to  a  bleak  hill-side,  and  was  immediately 
surrounded  by  a  strong  regimental  guard.  It  passed  the  night 
in  neighboring  houses  and  a  train  of  freight  cars  standing  on 
the  railroad  track  close  by,  and  on  Monday  embarked  for  Par- 
kersburg. 

During  the  day  last  named,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  paid  off, 
for  the  two  months  ending  October  31st,  and  on  Tuesday  it 
took  the  cars  also.  By  eleven  o'clock  that  night,  the  last  com 
pany  of  the  left  wing  was  safely  aboard  the  Capitola,  a  small 
"  up-river"  and  Kanawha  packet,  lying  at  the  Parkersburg 
wharf;  the  right  wing,  having  started  from  Clarksburg  some 
what  earlier  than  the  left,  had  been  swarming  the  decks  of  the 
Goody  Friends,  a  rather  larger  boat,  for  two  hours  past.  Two 
or  three  hours  were  consumed  in  loading  the  regimental  bag 
gage  and  taking  on  a  supply  of  quartermaster's  and  commis 
sary  stores;  so  that  it  was  some  time  after  midnight  before  the 
boats  got  under  way,  the  Capitola  leading,  with  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Anderson  aboard,  in  charge  of  the  left  wing.  Colonel 
Bosley  was  with  the  right  wing,  on  the  Goody  Friends.  Major 
Christopher  had  obtained  a  short  leave  of  absence,  and  started 
homeward  by  rail.  At  daylight  of  Wednesday,  which  opened 
with  a  drizzling  rain,  and  a  dreary  prospect  of  bare,  brown 
hill-sides  rising  upon  either  shore,  the  boats  stopped  at  Mason 
City  for  coal.  Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  the  Goody  Friends 
came  up  along-side  the  Capitola,  and  the  two  boats  were  lashed 
together,  after  which,  three  days'  rations  were  distributed,  and 
also  a  full  supply  of  shoes  and  socks.  Approaching  Gallipolis, 
the  boats  again  parted  company,  the  Goody  Friends  making  a 
landing  there,  to  enable  Colonel  Bosley  to  telegraph  General 
Buell,  with  a  request  that  the  regiment  might  stop  a  short 
time  at  Cincinnati. 


VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL!  163 

As  both  the  Third  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  had  had  several 
hours  in  the  Queen  City,  although  neither  of  them  was  raised 
in  that  section  of  the  State,  it  was  thought  to  be  impossible 
that  the  members  of  the  Sixth — Cincinnati's  own  regiment — 
would  be  denied  the  same  privilege.  There  was  already  a  vast 
army  in  Kentucky,  no  immediate  danger  threatened  in  that 
quarter,  a  few  hundred  men  could  not  be  missed  for  a  day  or 
two,  or  even  more ;  surely  the  regiment  would  stop,  must  stop, 
at  Cincinnati.  Thus  the  men  encouraged  each  other  in  their 
fond  hopes,  and,  in  spite  of  the  weather,  in  spite  of  their  mani 
fold  discomforts,  crowded  together  and  cramped  for  room  as 
they  were,  with  very  inadequate  accommodations  for  cooking, 
they  overflowed  with  good  humor,  and  were  as  full  of  plans  and 
pranks  as  school-boys  going  home  at  holiday. 

Home  and  friends ! — for  a  little  respite,  at  least,  to  be  seen, 
possessed,  enjoyed  once  more!  How  the  hours  lengthened  that 
still  kept  asunder  the  long-separated,  the  dearer-loved  than 
ever!  Yes,  and  they  at  home  were  waiting  too!  A  thousand 
letters  had  sent  to  Ohio  the  glad  news  of  marching  orders  be 
fore  ever  the  Sixth  left  Elk  water ;  a  score  of  telegraphic  mes 
sages  had  sped  the  tidings  of  its  progress  since;  and  every  body 
in  Cincinnati  knew  by  this  time  that  the  regiment  was  com 
ing.  For  the  brothers,  sons,  friends,  and  lovers  that  would 
march  in  its  ranks  through  the  streets  to-morrow,  what  tur 
keys  were  shedding  their  heart's  best  blood,  what  dinners  were 
cooking,  what  festivities  were  preparing!  There  were  nimble 
fingers,  too,  putting  the  last  finishing  touches  upon  numberless 
little  presents;  there  were  prayers  ascending,  hearts  throbbing 
with  fond  anticipation,  and  eyes  dimmed  with  tears  of  thank 
fulness  and  joy.  How  sluggishly  the  boats  were  floating  down 
stream,  when  they  should  have  plowed  through  the  current 
with  every  ounce  of  steam  on  that  the  boilers  would  bear ! 


164  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

But  the  boats  did  move.  About  2  P.  M.,  the  village  of 
Guyandotte  appeared  in  sight;  it  had  lately  been  the  scene  of 
some  guerrilla  savagery,  which  a  mass  of  blackened  ruins  told 
had  already  been  settled  for.  Somewhat  later  the  boats  passed 
the  mouth  of  the  Big  Sandy  River,  the  boundary  between  Vir 
ginia  and  Kentucky. 

"And  now  Virginia's  mountain  tops 
Faint  as  the  far-off  clouds  of  evening  lie, 
And  now  they  fade  away." 

Old  Dominion,  Mother  of  Presidents,  sacred  soil  of  Southern 
chivalry,  farewell,  farewell !  Kentucky  spread  away  upon  the 
left,  the  much-talked-of,  the  long-wished-for  Kentucky  !  Late 
in  the  day  the  sky  cleared,  and,  like  a  conqueror  crowned  and 
canopied  with  glory,  the  sun  sank  to  rest  behind  the  Kentucky 
hills.  His  last  rays  lingered  on  the  furnace  chimneys  of  Iron- 
ton  ;  but  these,  too,  were  soon  lost  in  twilight  and  the  distance, 
and  long  before  the  boats  passed  Portsmouth,  it  was  dark 
night. 

The  day  following  was  Thanksgiving-day — Thursday,  No 
vember  28th.  "  Dawn  found  us/'  says  the  diary  we  have  be 
fore  quoted  from,  "at  anchor,  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  just 
opposite  Glenn's  saw-mill,  in  Fulton.  Some  of  the  men  were 
in  plain  sight  of  their  homes ;  a  few  had  even  exchanged  greet 
ings  across  the  water  with  friends  on  shore.  I  saw  a  skiff  put 
out  from  the  bank,  and  a  little  fellow,  hardly  ten  years  old, 
come  pulling  toward  us  for  dear  life. 

" '  Ike!  mother  says  for  you  to  come  back  with  me,  and  get 
some  breakfast !  It  's  all  waitin'  now ;  come ! ' 

"*  Can't  do  it,  Johnny/  sang  out  a  Company  H  boy  at  my 
side — 'can't  do  it!  they  won't  let  us  off  right  here.  Tell 
mother  to  wait  till  supper  time ! ' 


VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL!  165 

"  The  boy  made  no  reply,  but  paddled  slowly,  and  I  thought 
sadly,  back  to  shore.  . 

"  Cincinnati  was  right  below  us.  "We  still  had  no  orders  from 
our  officers,  yet  nearly  all  were  sanguine  of  our  being  permitted 
to  land,  as  the  Third  and  Twenty-fourth  had  been,  and  having 
at  least  half  a  day  with  our  friends.  Even  the  few  who,  up  to 
last  night,  had  tried  to  reason  their  comrades  out  of  the  hope, 
were  now  as  eager  as  any  in  their  preparations  for  a  parade 
through  the  streets  of  Cincinnati.  Blankets  were  rolled  up 
and  strapped  on  the  knapsacks,  accouterments  were  rubbed 
clean,  uniforms  brushed,  shoes  polished,  paper  collars  and  new 
neck-ties  produced  and  put  on ;  and,  as  the  boats  started  again, 
under  full  steam,  some  even  shouldered  their  knapsacks,  and, 
with  gun  in  hand,  stood  on  the  deck,  rea*ly  to  leap  ashore  the 
moment  the  boat  should  touch  the  wharf.  We  could  hear  the 
bells  ringing  to  announce  our  approach,  and  a  crowd,  that  grew 
deeper  and  denser  every  minute,  was  already  assembled  at  the 
landing  to  give  us  welcome Oh,  bitter,  bitter  disap 
pointment  !  Five  minutes  the  boats  stopped  on  the  Covington 
side;  then  they  swung  round  again,  stood  out  into  the  middle 
of  the  stream,  and,  in  full  view  of  the  hundreds  on  shore, 
steamed  madly  down  toward  Louisville.  Threats  and  curses 
there  were  many,  it  is  true;  but,  for  the  most  part,  they  were 

'  Curses  not  loud,  but  deep.' 

I  heard  of  instances  where  full-grown  men — married  men  and 
fathers — wept  aloud.  I  saw  no  such  exhibitions,  but  I  did  see 
desperation  written  on  the  faces  of  scores  and  scores;  and  those, 
too,  of  the  very  best  men  in  the  regiment.  Not  a  cheer  from 
the  Guthries  all  that  long,  long  day;  gloom  and  sullen  de 
jection  brooded  on  almost  every  countenance." 
In  sympathy  with  the  hour,  as  it  almost  seemed,  a  cold,  driz- 


166  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

zling  rain  set  in,  about  10  A.  M.,  and,  continuing  nearly  all 
day,  was  succeeded  by  a  dense  fog,  which  compelled  the  boats 
to  lay  up  for  a  considerable  time  during  the  night.  Next 
morning  the  Sixth  disembarked  at  Louisville,  and  marched, 
first  to  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad  Depot,  where  a 
substantial  meal  was  provided  by  the  Subsistence  Committee 
(an  organization  of  loyal  citizens  of  Louisville),  and  afterward 
to  Camp  Jenkins,  an  extensive  camp  of  rendezvous,  nearly  five 
miles  out  on  the  plank  road,  where  the  regiment  filed  into  an 
old  corn-field  that  was  shoe-top  deep  in  mud,  and  was  ordered 
to  stack  arms,  unsling  knapsacks,  and  await  the  arrival  of 
tents  and  equipage  from  Louisville.  The  raw,  drizzling  rain, 
already  falling,  soon  turned  into  a  cold,  biting  sleet.  Singly, 
in  pairs  and  by  squads,  the  men  began  leaving  the  dreary 
scene,  in  search  of  shelter  and  more  comfortable  quarters  for 
the  night,  and  the  consequence  was  that  when,  at  dusk,  the 
tents  actually  did  arrive,  scarcely  a  corporal's  guard  remained 
to  put  them  up.  Some  of  the  men  were  sharing  the  hospital 
ities  of  acquaintances  in  other  regiments,  but  the  large  major 
ity  were  in  Louisville,  or  miles  on  their  way  toward  home. 

In  Cincinnati,  the  friends  of  the  regiment  had  felt  the  dis 
appointment  of  the  day  before  almost  as  keenly  as  had  the 
men  themselves.  Says  an  editorial  paragraph  in  the  Commw- 
cial,  of  November  29th :  "  It  was  sad  to  see  them  returning 
from  the  landing,  disappointed  in  their  confident  expectations 
of  meeting  the  gallant  fellows  who  have  been  so  long  absent. 
Many  ladies  wept  bitterly,  to  be  obliged  to  return  home  with 
the  little  packages  of  comforts  prepared  for  the  boys,  and  some 
of  the  scenes  were  most  touching."  The  Ninth  and  Tenth  Ohio, 
from  the  Kanawha  region,  were  close  behind  the  Sixth  in  its 
passage  down  the  river,  and  they  were  permitted  not  only  to 
land,  but  to  spend  two  or  three  days  in  Cincinnati.  Hardly 


VIRGINIA,  FAREWELL!  167 

had  the  Goody  Friends  and  Capitola  passed  out  of  sight, 
below  Cincinnati,  when  the  friends  of  the  Sixth  began  rendez 
vousing  on  the  Superior,  the  noon  mail-boat,  determined  to 
see  their  soldier  boys  before  the  regiment  should  leave  Louis 
ville.  Those  who  were  unable  to  pay  fare  the  mail  company 
transported  free,  so  that  the  boat  was  crowded.  It  passed  the 
regiment  during  the  night;  and  when  the  troops  filed  ashore  in 
the  morning,  not  a  few  were  at  once  taken  possession  of  and 
spirited  away — some  with  permission  from  their  officers,  and 
some  without — to  hotels  and  elsewhere,  to  enjoy  a  happy  reun 
ion  writh  loving  ones  from  home,  and  spend  a  few  hours  in  their 
dear  society.  As  there  was,  in  addition  to  these,  the  inevitable 
proportion  of  stragglers  from  the  ranks,  which  a  body  of  troops 
in  transitu  is  sure  to  leave  behind  in  passing  through  a  large 
city,  not  much  more  than  half  of  the  regiment  went  out  to 
Camp  Jenkins  on  Friday,  November  30th. 

For  nearly  a  week  the  Sixth  Ohio  remained  in  the  demoral 
ized  condition  consequent  upon  the  events  we  have  described, 
which  was  undoubtedly  made  worse  by  the  fact  that  the  men 
were  all  in  funds.  The  "  stampede  at  Louisville  " — to  use  the 
term  by  which  it  was  long  known  in  the  regiment — was  a  time 
that  exceedingly  few  survivors  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  will  ever  forget. 
First  and  last,  nearly  one-half  of  the  regiment  must  have  been 
smuggled  home,  in  various  disguises,  with  the  active  conniv 
ance,  in  most  cases,  of  sympathizing  steamboatmen  and  railroad 
conductors;  and  friends,  meanwhile,  were  continually  coming 
and  going  at  camp.  In  Louisville,  the  "  P.  P's." — the  "  Pro 
visional  Patrols,"  a  body  of  home-guards  whom  Western  Vir 
ginia  campaigners  were  in  duty  bound  to  hold  in  profound  con 
tempt — in  Louisville,  those  maintainers  of  "good  order  and 
military  discipline,"  had  a  lively  time  indeed.  The  city  abound- 


168  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ing  with  stragglers  from  the  two-score  regiments  or  more  en 
camped  in  its  environs,  the  patrols  seldom  encountered  such 
obstreperous  customers  as  certain  squads  of  the  Sixth  Ohio 
could  furnish  at  that  period.  But  while  the  regiment,  as  a  body, 
felt  that  they  had  been  unjustly  treated,  the  patriotism  of  its 
individual  members  never  wavered.  In  a  few  days  the  Sixth 
Ohio  re-assembled — every  man  of  it  save  six.  In  view  of  all 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  together  with  the  previous  good 
character  of  the  command,  the  escapade  was  overlooked ;  and  al 
though  a  cloud  now  overshadowed  the  regiment,  it  very  soon 
lifted,  as  we  shall  see. 


NEW  ASSOCIATIONS.  169 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

NEW    ASSOCIATIONS. 

(DECEMBER  6-18,  1861.) 

CAMP  JENKINS— or,  as  it  was  officially  designated, 
Camp  Buell — was  low  and  flat,  and  but  poorly  supplied 
with  water,  being  merely  a  temporary  place  of  rendezvous,  un 
der  the  command  of  General  O.  M.  Mitchel,  for  such  of  Gen 
eral  BuelPs  heavy  reinforcements  as  could  not  be  quartered  in 
other  camps  in  the  environs  of  Louisville.  Of  the  regiments 
here  assembled,  a  considerable  portion  were  new,  en  route  to 
the  front  for  the  first  time  \  and  among  this  number  were  two, 
soon  to  be  associated  with  the  Sixth,  namely,  Colonel  W.  B. 
Hazcn's  Forty-first  Ohio,  from  the  Western  Reserve,  and 
the  Fifty-first  Ohio,  recruited  mainly  in  Tuscarawas  and  Co- 
shocton  Counties,  but  commanded  by  Colonel  Stanley  M. 
Matthews,  of  Cincinnati,  the  same  gentleman  who  had  re 
ceived  a  large  number  of  votes,  at  Camp  Dennison,  for  the 
colonelcy  of  the  Sixth.  A  few  of  the  remaining  commands 
had  had  a  spice  of  active  campaigning,  under  the  iron-willed 
Kelson,  in  Eastern  Kentucky,  and  in  this  list  were  the  Second 
and  Thirty-third  Ohio  Infantry,  the  former  of  which,  reorgan 
ized  for  the  three-years'  service,  under  Colonel  L.  A.  Harris,  of . 
Cincinnati,  contained  many  personal  friends  of  members  of  the 
Sixth.  The  regiments  from  Western  Virginia  were  the  veterans, 


170  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

par  excellence,  of  all  the  troops  in  camp.  There  were  several 
of  them,  besides  the  Sixth  Ohio,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Louisville.  The  Ninth  Ohio  was  directly  across  the  river,  at 
Camp  Joe  Holt,  near  Jefferson ville,  Indiana ;  the  Tenth  Ohio 
was  quartered  in  some  neighboring  camp ;  the  Seventeenth  In 
diana  had  gone  out  to  the  Oakland  Race  Course;  and  the  Third 
and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  as  also  the  Fifteenth  Indiana,  were 
with  the  Sixth  Ohio  at  Camp  Buell. 

The  Third  and  Sixth  Ohio,  fast  friends  still,  were  encamped 
upon  contiguous  grounds,  and  in  both  regiments  the  desire  to 
have  them  brigaded  together  was  almost  universal.  This  feel 
ing,  however,  was  not  to  be  gratified.  The  Third,  being  as 
signed  to  General  MitchePs  division,  in  a  few  days  went  for 
ward,  by  rail,  to  Bacon  Creek,  near  Green  River,  and  its 
eventful  history  subsequent  to  this  period  has  comparatively 
little  in  common  with  that  of  the  Sixth  Ohio.  The  latter,  on 
the  6th  of  December,  found  itself  incorporated  with  the  "  Fif 
teenth  Brigade,  Army  of  the  Ohio,"  commanded  by  Colonel 
Milo  S.  Hascall,  of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana,  and  comprising, 
in  addition  to  that  officer's  own  regiment  and  the  Sixth  Ohio, 
the  Fifteenth  Indiana  and  Forty-first  Ohio.  Lieutenant  Ed 
ward  R.  Kerstetter,  Adjutant  of  the  Seventeenth  Indiana,  was 
announced  as  acting  assistant  adjutant-general  on  Colonel  Has- 
call's  staff,  to  which  an  aid-de-camp  was  added  a  few  days 
later,  in  the  person  of  Lieutenant  Montagnier,  of  Company  G, 
Sixth  Ohio,  a  versatile  and  accomplished  officer. 

Milo  S.  Hascall  was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New  York, 
in  August,  1829,  and  in  the  spring  of  1848,  entered  the  mili- 
itary  academy  at  West  Point,  as  a  cadet  from  one  of  the  con 
gressional  districts  in  Indiana,  to  which  State  he  had  removed 
during  the  preceding  September.  He  graduated  in  1852, 


NEW   ASSOCIATIONS.  171 

fourteenth  in  a  class  of  ninety-six.  Among  his  class-mates 
were  Generals  Sheridan,  David  S.  Stanley,  A.  McDowell  Mc- 
Cook,  Crook,  Charles  R.  Woods,  Hartsuff  and  Slocum.* 
Young  Hascall  remained  in  the  army  as  second  lieutenant, 
until  September,  1854,  when  he  resigned,  and,  returning  to  his 
adopted  State,  began  the  study  of  the  law,  in  the  practice  of 
which  profession  he  was  engaged  when  the  rebellion  broke  out. 
Throwing  his  entire  energies  into  the  struggle  for  the  nation's 
preservation,  he  was  speedily  promoted  from  a  captaincy  in 
the  Seventeenth  Indiana  to  the  command  of  that  body,  which 
he  led  into  Western  Virginia,  in  July,  1861.  The  services  of 
his  regiment  in  that  quarter  have  been  outlined  in  previous 
chapters. 

Before  spring  opened,  the  Sixth  Ohio,  as  we  shall  see,  was 
transferred  to  another  brigade,  soon  after  which  Colonel  Has 
call  was  appointed  brigadier-general,  and  in  due  time  was  con 
firmed  as  such,  to  rank  from  March  25th,  1862.  At  Stone 
River,  his  division  commander,  General  Thomas  J.  Wood,  hav 
ing  been  wounded,  General  Hascall  had  command  of  the  ex 
treme  left,  consisting  of  four  brigades,  during  the  last  three 
days  of  the  battle ;  and  it  was  with  true  soldierly  pride  that 
he  called  attention,  in  his  official  report,  to  the  fact  that  his 
division  "  held  its  original  position,  and  every  other  position  as 
signed  to  it,  during  the  whole  four  days."  Soon  after  this 
engagement,  he  was  ordered  to  Indianapolis,  to  assume  com 
mand  of  the  District  of  Indiana ;  but,  after  remaining  there 
less  than  five  months,  he  again  went  into  the  field,  in  com 
mand  of  a  division  of  the  Twenty-third  Army  Corps.  He 
took  a  prominent  part  in  General  Burnside's  movement  into  East 

*0hio  was  represented  in  this  class  by  five  members.     They  were  the 
five  first-named  in  the  list  above  given — a  brilliant  galaxy  indeed. 


172  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Tennessee,  and  later  operations  in  that  region,  including  the 
siege  of  Knoxville.  During  the  Atlanta  campaign,  his  di 
vision,  then  serving  under  General  Schofield,  shared  with  the 
remainder  of  Sherman's  army  in  nearly  five  months  of  march 
ing  and  fighting,  almost  without  intermission.  In  October, 
1864  (several  weeks  subsequent  to  the  fall  of  Atlanta),  Gen 
eral  Hascall  resigned,  after  a  continuous  servi'ce  of  three  years 
and  six  months,  and  somewhat  later  engaged  in  the  banking 
business  at  Goshen,  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  which  is  his 
home  at  the  date  of  this  writing. 

We  now  return  to  affairs  at  Camp  Buell.  To  its  dismay, 
the  Fifteenth  Brigade  was  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Division, 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  William 
Nelson,  whom,  as  yet,  the  troops  knew  only  from  his  fearful 
portraiture — a  monstrous  sort  of  anamorphosis — by  the  men 
composing  his  late  command  in  Eastern  Kentucky.  General 
Kelson's  staff  was  announced  as  follows :  "  J.  Mills  Kendrick, 
Thirty-third  Ohio  Volunteers,  acting  assistant  adjutant-gen 
eral  ;  E.  E.  Colburn,  Thirty-third  Ohio  Volunteers,  acting 
division  quartermaster ;  John  M.  Duke,  Jr.,  Colonel  Marshall's 
regiment  Kentucky  Volunteers,  aid-de-camp."  Shortly  af 
terward,  Lieutenant  Richard  Southgate,  of  Company  I,  Sixth 
Ohio,  was  detailed  as  an  additional  aid-de-camp. 

Lack  of  transportation  detained  the  Fifteenth  Brigade  at 
Camp  Buell  two  or  three  days  longer  than  was  originally  in 
tended,  none  of  the  Western  Virginia  regiments  in  it  having 
brought  their  wagons  or  teams  further  than  Philippi  or 
Clarksburg.  On  the  evening  of  December  9th,  marching  or 
ders  were  at  length  received,  and  were  followed,  some  hours 
after  dark,  by  the  appearance  of  the  much  desired  transporta 
tion,  consisting  of  twelve  six-mule  teams  for  each  regiment — 


NEW   ASSOCIATIONS.  173 

one  wagon  for  each  company  and  two  wagons  for  the  regi 
mental  and  head-quarters  baggage.  Dr.  Stephens  had  previ 
ously  drawn  a  sufficient  supply  of  hospital  tents  and  stores  for 
the  wants  of  the  regiment,  which  were  characteristically  lim 
ited,  and  the  few  sick  he  had  sent  to  general  hospital  at  Louis 
ville. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  December  10th,  the  Fifteenth  Bri 
gade  set  out  on  the  march  to  Camp  Wickliffe,  which  was  to  be 
the  winter's  home  of  the  Fourth  Division.  It  was  accom 
panied  by  the  Fifty-first  Ohio,  the  whole  force  of  five  regi 
ments  being  under  the  personal  conduct  of  General  Nelson. 
The  men  carried  provisions  for  one  day,  while  four  days'  ra 
tions  more  were  packed  in  the  wagons.  Passing  through 
Louisville,  where  its  appearance  was  remarked  as  very  sol 
dierly,  the  column  struck  out  upon  the  Bardstown  turnpike  at 
a  swinging  gait,  the  Forty-first  Ohio  in  the  advance,  and  the 
Sixth  Ohio  coming  next.  The  weather  was  warm  for  the  sea 
son,  and,  in  spite  of  orders  and  a  strong  rear-guard,  there  was 
considerable  straggling  before  nightfall. 

After  the  first  day,  the  march  was  characterized  by  admira 
ble  system  and  good  order,  almost  every  detail  receiving  Gen 
eral  Nelson's  personal  attention,  in  greater  or  less  degree. 
The  starting  of  the  troops  and  trains  in  the  morning,  the  tim 
ing  of  the  halts,  the  order  and  general  style  of  the  march,  the 
preservation  of  distances,  the  enforcement  of  regulations  against 
straggling,  the  selection  of  camping  grounds,  the  posting  of 
interior  guards  as  well  as  of  the  pickets,  and  other  matters 
of  minutiaa  not  a  few,  the  indefatigable  commander  insisted 
upon  having  executed  precisely  in  accordance  with  orders, 
and,  as  far  as  possible,  under  his  own  eye.  The  troops  instinct 
ively  felt  that  they  had  a  leader,  and,  although  they  still  feared 
him  to  be  a  harsh,  unbending  disciplinarian,  he  had  already 


174  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

secured  their  confidence  and  was  rapidly  gaining  their  esteem. 
Upon  this  march  the  Sixth  Ohio  began  to  attract  General  Nel 
son's  notice,  by  its  excellent  marching  qualities;  for,  "while 
gome  regiments,"  as  a  medical  officer  writes,  "were  transport 
ing  several  ambulance  loads  of  flagging  soldiers,  almost  every 
man  of  the  Sixth  kept  squarely  'on  his  pins.7  7 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  on  the  date  last  given,  when 
the  Fifteenth  Brigade  reached  its  camping  place,  about  sixteen 
miles  from  Camp  Buell,  and  ten  miles  from  Louisville.  The 
wagon  train  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  with  the  tents  and  regimental 
baggage,  did  not  come  up  until  long  after  dark ;  meantime,  the 
men  had  grown  weary  of  waiting  for  it,  and  as  the  evening  was 
warm  and  the  sky  quite  clear,  they  wrapped  their  blankets  about 
them  and  lay  down  to  sleep  in  the  open  air.  About  midnight 
they  were  awakened  by  a  hard  shower  of  rain,  to  which  suc 
ceeded  a  cold,  north-west  wind.  They  shivered  out  the  re 
mainder  of  the  night,  and,  gladly  making  a  start  at  daylight, 
on  the  next  day  marched  about  fourteen  miles,  passing  through 
Mt.  Washington,  in  Bullitt  County,  a  small  place  of  decided 
secession  sympathies,  and  halted  for  the  night  just  within  the 
limits  of  Nelson  County,  about  half  a  mile  south  of  the  East 
Fork  of  Salt  River.  The  night  was  cold,  with  severe  frost. 

On  the  12th,  the  brigade  passed  through  Bardstown,  and, 
after  a  tiresome  march  of  sixteen  miles,  went  into  bivouac  on 
Beech  Fork  shortly  before  sundown. 

On  the  13th,  an  easy  stage  of  twelve  miles  brought  it  to  within 
half  a  mile  of  New  Haven,  where  it  encamped,  early  in  the  af 
ternoon,  on  a  thinly-wooded  knoll  on  the  right  of  the  turnpike. 
New  Haven  is  a  sprightly  little  town  on  the  Lebanon  branch  of 
the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad,  in  Nelson  County,  but 
nearly  on  the  boundary  line  of  the  county  of  La  Rue.  The  turn 
pike  which  approaches  it  from  Bardstown,  by  a  south-westerly 


NEW   ASSOCIATIONS.  175 

course,  leads  out  from  it,  in  a  more  southerly  direction,  toward 
Munfordville,  in  Hart  County,  where  it  unites  with  the  main 
turnpike — the  old  stage  route — from  Louisville  to  Nashville. 
Immediately  beyond  the  town,  as  the  traveler  journeys  south 
ward,  he  begins  the  toilsome  ascent  of  an  elevated  ridge,  which, 
in  fact,  is  a  continuation  of  the  range  known  as  Muldraugh's 
Hills,  and  forms  one  of  those  extensive  barrens  that  character 
ize  this  portion  of  Kentucky.  These  barrens  are  mostly  over 
grown  with  dwarfish  forests  of  black-jack,  post-oak,  etc.,  and 
from  their  infertility  remain  but  sparsely  settled. 

On  the  south-western  slope  of  the  ridge  above  mentioned, 
where  the  head- waters  of  Nolin  Creek  take  their  rise,  the  coun 
try,  although  less  populous  and  wealthy  than  in  the  vicinity  of 
Bardstown,  again  assumes  an  aspect  of  thrift  and  cultivation. 
It  was  here,  at  a  point  on  the  turnpike  about  twelve  miles  from 
New  Haven,  that  General  Nelson  had  selected  a  camping  ground 
for  his  division  until  it  should  be  ordered  forward,  in  a  general 
advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio;  and  here  arriving  at  one  o'clock, 
on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  December  14th,  the  Fifteenth  Bri 
gade  was  at  the  end  of  its  journey.  Next  day,  another  brigade — 
the  Tenth,  under  command  of  Colonel  Ammen — came  up,  and 
went  into  camp  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  turnpike.  It  consisted 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  and  Fifty-first  Ohio  and  the  Thirty-fourth 
and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  of  which  the  two  regiments  last  named 
had  been  acting  for  some  time  past  as  a  corps  of  observation  in 
the  region  about  New  Haven,  and  were  entire  strangers  to  the 
rest  of  the  division.  A  third  brigade  had  been  promised  General 
Nelson,  but  it  did  not  join  the  others  until  about  three  weeks 
later. 

The  new  camp  received  its  name  in  honor  of  Ex-Governor  C. 
A.  Wickliffe,  a  gentleman  of  advanced  years,  who  was,  at  this 
period,  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  National  Congress, 


176  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

but  whose  subsequent  course  indicated  a  sad  declension  from  the 
outspoken  loyalty  which  he  originally  professed.  The  location 
of  the  camp  was  excellent,  the  grounds  being  high  and  rolling, 
abundantly  supplied  with  wood  and  water,  and  adjacent  to  large 
and  pleasant  drill  grounds.  With  reference  to  the  country  in 
front,  toward  the  enemy,  it  was,  for  all  purposes  of  observation, 
a  commanding  position ;  while  its  communications  with  the  sup 
ply  depot  at  New  Haven  were  short,  safe,  and  easy ;  at  the  same 
time,  it  was  within  ready  supporting  distance  of  the  forces  which 
General  Buell  had  assembled  along  the  line  of  the  Louisville 
and  Nashville  Railroad,  at  various  convenient  points  near  Green 
River.  Those  forces,  which  consisted  of  the  two  strong  divisions 
of  McCook  and  Mitchel,  numerically  designated  the  Second  and 
Third,  were  on  the  right  of  Camp  Wickliife,  and  thirty-six  hours' 
march  nearer  the  enemy,  who  was  lying  between  Green  River  and 
Bowling  Green.  The  rebel  commander  (Albert  Sidney  John 
ston)  had  fortified  the  latter  position  with  great  labor,  design 
ing  to  hold  it,  as  being  the  key-point  of  Central  Kentucky  and 
the  main  outwork  for  defending  the  rich  and  fertile  regions  of 
Middle  Tennessee.  The  First  Division,  under  General  Thomas, 
was  a  considerable  distance  to  the  left  of  the  Fourth,  with  head 
quarters  and  its  base  of  supplies  at  Lebanon,  which  is  the  ter 
minus  of  the  branch  railroad  that  passes  through  New  Haven, 
It  formed  the  left  of  BuelPs  cooperative  columns  in  Central 
Kentucky.  For  the  present,  its  duty  was  simply  that  of  occu 
pation,  keeping  a  close  watch,  meanwhile,  upon  the  movements 
of  the  rebel  General  Zollicoffer,  who  had  recently  crossed  the 
Cumberland  River  from  Mill  Spring,  in  Wayne  County,  and 
begun  intrenching  himself  on  the  northern  bank  of  that  stream, 
the  better  to  maintain  which  surveillance,  Schoepf  ?s  brigade  had 
been  thrown  forward  to  Somerset,  in  Pulaski  County. 
The  Fourth  Division,  remaining  for  several  weeks  longer  with- 


NEW   ASSOCIATIONS.  177 

out  artillery  or  any  considerable  body  of  cavalry,  was  scarcely 
prepared  for  an  aggressive  campaign.  But,  while  watching 
the  front  toward  Green  River  and  guarding  the  left  flank  of 
the  forces  about  Munfordville,  it  was  being  molded  by  dis 
cipline  and  laborious  drill  into  that  body  of  veterans  whose 
renown  not  merely  became  the  pride  of  the  lion-hearted  com 
mander  who  made  the  Fourth  Division  what  it  was,  but  shed 
a  luster  on  the  history  of  the  whole  army.* 

The  15th  of  December  was  a  bright,  spring-like  Sabbath  day, 
and  very  pleasant  was  the  rest  which  came  with  it  for  the  tired 
and  foot-sore  men  of  the  Fifteenth  Brigade.  General  Nelson, 
however,  impatient  to  begin  the  task  of  drilling,  had  already 
issued  a  general  order,  instituting  the  following  calls  for  duty, 
throughout  the  division : 

Reveille,  at  6  A.  M. 

Between  reveille  and  breakfast,  quarters  to  be  policed  and  arms 
cleaned. 

Breakfast,  7  A.  M. 

Fatigue  and  sick  call,  7 : 30  A.  M. 

Officers'  drill  [under  direction  of  brigade  commanders],  8  to 
9  A.  M. 

Squad  drill  for  privates  [under  non-commissioned  officers],  at 
same  hour. 

Guard  mounting,  8  A.  M. 

Drill  call  [battalion  drill  with  knapsacks],  9 : 30  A.  M. 

Recall  from  drill,  11 : 30  A.  M. 

Orderly  call  and  recall  from  fatigue,  11:40  A.  M, 

*0ne  interesting  circumstance  which  we  must  not  forget  to  mention 
in  connection  with  Camp  Wickliffe  is,  that  about  five  miles  west  of  it, 
and  a  short  distance  within  the  limits  of  La  Rue  County,  the  log-cabin 
was  pointed  out  in  which  Abraham  Lincoln  was  born.  We  believe  it  is 
still  standing. 

12 


178  THE  STORY  OF  A  REGIMENT. 

Dinner  call,  12  M. 

Fatigue  call,  12  : 30  P.  M. 

Drill  call  [brigade  or  division  drill],  1  P.  M. 

Recall  from  drill,  4  P.  M. 

Retreat  and  dress  parade,  sunset. 

Supper,  5  :  30  P.  M. 

Tattoo,  8  P.  M. 

Taps,  8  : 10  P.  M. 

Such  was  the  life  upon  which  the  Fourth  Division  entered 
on  the  16th  of  December,  1861.  It  was  busy,  exacting,  la 
borious,  but  it  made  soldiers  out  of  untrained  volunteers  with 
wonderful  precision  and  rapidity. 

Upon  the  18th  of  December,  the  troops  at  Camp  Wickliffe 
received  intelligence  of  the  repulse,  at  Woodsonville,  of  a  con 
siderable  body  of  Texan  Rangers,  by  Colonel  Willich's  Thirty- 
second  Indiana — a  spirited  little  action,  fought  on  the  17th, 
which  kindled  the  enthusiasm  of  BuelPs  entire  army. 

The  following  changes  took  place  among  the  officers  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  about  ten  days  after  the  regiment  reached  Camp 
Wickliffe :  First  Lieutenant  Thatcher,  promoted  from  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  K,  was  transferred  to  Company  F ; 
First  Lieutenant  Charles  C.  Peck,  promoted  from  quartermas 
ter-sergeant,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Edward  M.  Gettier,  pro 
moted  from  private  in  Company  B,  were  assigned  to  Company 
K ;  and  Coporal  Robert  W.  Wise,  of  Company  E,  was  appointed 
to  the  vacant  position  of  quartermaster-sergeant.  About  the 
same  time,  Second  Lieutenant  William  E.  Sheridan,  promoted 
from  sergeant-major,  was  assigned  to  Company  H;  and  Harry 
Gee,  first  sergeant  of  Company  K,  was  appointed  his  succes 
sor  as  sergeant-major. 


CAMP   WICKLIFFE.  179 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

CAMP  WICKLIFFE. 

(DECEMBER  14,  1861-FEBRUARY  13,  1862.) 

Sixth  Ohio  remained  at  Camp  Wickliffe  two  months, 
to  a  day.  The  events  which  that  period  embraces  could 
be  recorded  most  easily,  perhaps,  precisely  in  their  chronolog 
ical  order.  But  this  would  be  to  burden  the  narrative  with 
needless  repetitions,  and  make  it  as  wearisome  as 

u  The  thrice-told  tale  of  garrulous  old  age." 

The  better  method  of  treating  any  aggregation  of  such  subjects 
as  are  most  of  those  which  fall  within  the  scope  of  this  chap 
ter,  seems  to  be  to  select  the  leading  incidents  and  present 
them  in  those  groupings  and  with  those  accessories  that  will 
bring  into  the  boldest  relief  the  features  which  possess  an  en 
during  interest;  and,  if  in  some  parts  of  the  recital  there 
should  appear  a  lack  of  connection,  the  reader  should  remem 
ber  that  many  of  the  occurrences  tending  to  break  the  monot 
ony  of  camp  life  are  purely  episodical  in  their  character,  and 
that,  at  best,  the  writer  who  truthfully  describes  military  ex 
perience  in  the  intervals  between  active  campaigning,  is,  by 
the  very  nature  of  his  subject,  limited  to  the  functions  of  a 
mere  chronicler. 

For  more  than  two  weeks  after  the  establishment  of  Camp 


180  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

AVickliffe,  the  weather  continued  remarkably  favorable  for  drill 
purposes,  and  was  improved  to  the  utmost.  "  We  have  drills 
of  all  sorts/7  says  a  private  letter  of  this  period ;  "  squad  drill, 
company  drill,  battalion  drill,  brigade  drill;  officer's  drill, 
skirmish  drill,  and  drills  in  the  bayonet  exercise;  drill  in 
quick-time,  drill  at  double-quick,  and  drill  upon  the  run ;  drill 
with  knapsacks,  and  drill  without  them;  drill  to  the  tap  of 
the  drum,  drill  with  bugle  calls,  and  drill  at  the  route  step; 
drill  in  the  morning,  drill  till  noon,  and  drill  up  to  the  hour 
for  evening  dress  parade ; — an  incessant  round  of  drill,  drill, 
drill ! "  Even  after  the  storms  of  winter  came  on,  the  morn 
ing  must  have  been  bleak  indeed,  or  the  drill-grounds  shoe- 
top  deep  in  mud,  before  the  order  ever  came,  "  No  drills  to 
day."  Occasionally,  the  exercises  were  varied  by  an  inspection, 
or,  if  an  afternoon  was  particularly  fine,  by  a  grand  review. 
On  several  nights,  and  those,  of  course,  as  dark  and  dreary  as 
the  season  could  afford,  the  long-roll  was  beaten,  and,  although 
the  alarms  invariably  proved  false,  or,  more  strictly  speaking, 
accidental,  the  alacrity  and  full  ranks  with  which  the  Sixth 
Ohio  always  formed  in  line  at  such  times  pleased  General  Nel 
son  greatly. 

"  The  winter  holidays  "  are  words  of  little  import  to  a  sol 
dier  ;  nevertheless,  the  season  brought  some  rest  to  the  Fourth 
Division.  Drills  were  omitted  upon  both  Christmas  day  and 
New  Year's,  and  sociability  ruled  the  hour,  General  Nelson 
himself  setting  the  example.*  The  8th  of  January,  the  anni- 

*  Among  the  many  reminiscences  of  Camp  Wickliffe,  an  especially  pleas 
ant  one  to  some  of  the  officers  will  be  the  evening  spent  at  Colonel  Has- 
call's  head-quarters,  on  the  30th  of  December.  It  was  the  first  time  that  a 
majority  of  those  present  had  seen  General  Nelson  unbend  in  social  inter 
course.  "  We  found  him  a  genial  gentleman,"  writes  one  of  the  party, 
41  a  ready  speaker,  full  of  anecdote  and  wit ;  one  who  has  traveled  all 


CAMP   WICKLIFFE.  181 

versary  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  was  also  kept  as  a  holiday. 
"  The  name  and  services  of  Andrew  Jackson,"  said  the  order 
directing  its  observance,  "  are  now,  more  than  ever,  precious 
to  the  heart  of  every  patriot.  It  was  the  Union  established 
by  the  Federal  Constitution  for  which  he  fought  and  labored. 
He  defended  it  against  a  foreign  foe ;  he  saved  it  from  domestic 
traitors,  and,  warning  his  countrymen  against  the  treason  he 
had  baffled,  predicted  the  renewal  of  its  plottings,  which  sur 
vived  him.  On  the  present  generation  has  devolved  the  sacred 
duty  of  emulating  his  patriotism  and  of  completing  his  work. 
It  is  to  us,  arrayed  for  the  cause  so  dear  to  him,  that  his  great 
injunction  is  pronounced:  'The  Federal  Union — it  must  and 
shall  be  preserved ! ' ' 

The  Fourth  Division  was  not  long  in  discovering  the  ter 
rible  earnestness  of  its  commander  in  every  thing  to  which  he 
put  his  hand,  from  the  giant  task  of  crushing  rebellion  to  the 
posting  of  a  single  sentinel.  His  tireless  energy  permeated 
every  department  of  military  administration.  Says  a  news 
paper  correspondent,*  writing  from  Camp  Wickliffe:  "There 
is  no  measure  to  General  Nelson's  industry.  This  morning  at 
daylight  he  mounted  his  horse,  without  waiting  for  breakfast, 
and  dashed  away  on  a  ride  of  miles  to  secure  some  houses  for 

over  the  world,  and  speaks  fluently  half  a  dozen  languages."  The  even 
ing's  enjoyment  was  heightened  by  the  admirable  recitations  of  those 
notabilities  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  Lieutenant  Sheridan  and  Alf.  Burnett.  A 
medical  officer  of  the  division,  a  personal  friend  of  General  Nelson,  relates 
that  on  their  return  from  Colonel  Hascall's  head-quarters,  the  General 
spoke  particularly  of  the  intelligence  and  varied  talent  to  be  found  in  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  concluding  with  the  following  unique  but  characteristic  com 
mendation  :  "  They  are  the  biggest  rascals  in  my  division,  sir;  the  smartest 
boys  in  the  army!  " 

*"  Orderly,"  February  2,  1862. 


182  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

the  sick  of  the  Fifty-first  Ohio.  He  finds  out  infractions  of 
orders,  inefficiency  of  officers,  want  of  punctuality  on  the  part 
of  sentinels  and  pickets — in  a  word,  every  thing  that  is  not  in 
accordance  with  his  orders — in  a  way  that  is  astonishing  to 
every  body.  And  if  to-morrow  you  should  introduce  a  man 
within  ten  miles  of  this  encampment,  ten  chances  to  one  Gen 
eral  Nelson  would  tell  you  at  once  to  which  side  he  belongs, 
and  especially  what,  if  any  thing,  he  has  done  to  help  the  rebels. 
He  is  the  '  Index  Rerurn'  of  these  things,  as  well  as  of  all 
information  touching  roads,  rivers,  bridges,  and  creeks.  That 
he  will  have  his  troops  well  fed  and  clothed,  his  quartermasters 
well  know;  that  he  will  have  his  sick  kindly  cared  for  and 
made  comfortable,  his  surgeons  well  know ;  and  if  there  is  a 
screw  found  loose  in  either  department,  the  screw-driver  sticks 
where  it  properly  belongs." 

"  General  Nelson,"  writes  another  correspondent,*  "  has  been 
dealing  destruction  among  negligent  and  incompetent  officers, 
so  many  of  whom  have  been  placed  under  arrest  that  his  quar 
ters  present  the  appearance  of  a  second-hand  sword  store.  He 
is  daily  becoming  more  popular  with  the  men.  Troops  with 
ordinary  intelligence  soon  learn  that  a  general  who  4iolds 
officers  responsible  for  dereliction  from  duty,  and  who  sees  that 
his  soldiers  are  fed  with  wholesome  food  and  properly  clothed, 
and  that  the  sick  are  cared  for,  is  their  true  friend,  notwith 
standing  the  strictness  which  may  characterize  his  require 
ments  regarding  military  discipline." 

Few  have  been  the  troops  whose  health  and  comfort  were 
the  object  of  more  painstaking  solicitude  than  was  extended 
the  Fourth  Division  while  at  Camp  Wickliffe.  For  example, 
not  only  were  the  men  furnished  regular  supplies  of  fresh  meat, 

*"Nemo,"  January  8,  1862. 


CAMP   WICKLIFFE.  183 

but  they  had  also  the  benefits  of  a  General  Order  from  Division 
Head-quarters,  prescribing  the  best  mode  of  preparing  soup 
therefrom.*  Other  orders  protected  them  against  the  imposi 
tions  of  pie-peddlers  and  the  division  bakeries.  Nor  could 
sutlers  complain  of  being  overlooked,  so  long  as  they  were  re 
membered  in  orders,  such  as  the  following,  which  bears  date 
January  25th,  1862:  "The  Brigadier-General  learned  yester 
day,  to  his  great  indignation,  that,  on  several  occasions,  wag 
oners  had  either  neglected  or  refused  to  bring  to  camp,  hospital 
supplies  and  comforts  for  the  sick  from  New  Haven,  but  had 
left  them  there  and  hurried  forward  sutler's  goods  in  prefer 
ence.  No  sutler's  goods  will,  upon  any  pretense,  be  allowed 
in  a  Government  wagon.  The  guard  of  the  Forty-first  Ohio 
will  stop  every  wagon  coming  from  New  Haven  and  search 
it  under  the  inspection  of  the  officer  of  the  guard,  and,  if  any 
sutler's  goods  are  found  therein,  they  will  arrest  the  teamster, 
and  also  the  wagon-master,  and  report  their  names  to  these 
head-quarters  for  trial  by  court-martial.  The  goods  will  be 
held  subject  to  further  orders."  About  New  Year's,  in  accord 
ance  with  instructions  from  Department  Head-quarters,  a  gen 
eral  inspection  of  blankets  was  held  in  each  regiment,  and  all 
that  were  found  to  be  under  the  regulation  weight  were  re 
placed  by  a  better  article.  Among  all  the  comforts  of  Camp 
Wickliffe  life,  however,  none  was  greater  than  the  regularity 
and  promptitude  of  the  mails. 

The  attention  which  General  Nelson  gave  the  hospital  ar 
rangements  of  his  division,  has  been  so  far  indicated  in  pre 
ceding  paragraphs,  that  little  more  need  here  be  added,  save  to 
mention  the  efficiency  of  the  medical  department,  under  the 

*  General  Nelson's  somewhat  famous  "beef-soup  order"  will  be  found 
in  full  in  the  chapter  in  Part  II,  entitled  "  Training  under  Nelson." 


184  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

management  of  Dr.  William  H.  Mussey,  Medical  Director  of 
the  Division,  a  kind-hearted  and  most  faithful  officer.  Dr.  J. 
Taylor  Bradford,  brigade  surgeon  of  the  Tenth  Brigade,  and 
a  warm  personal  friend  of  General  Nelson,  was  scarcely  less 
active  in  devising  means  for  improving  the  sanitary  condition 
of  the  command,  which  was  far  from  satisfactory.  A  few  days 
of  comparative  inaction  developed  among  the  men  camp 
diarrhea  and  rheumatism.  Measles  next  appeared  and  swept 
over  the  camp,  and  in  two  or  three  regiments  typhoid  fever 
committed  ravages,  while,  in  others,  small-pox,  with  its  loath 
some  clasp,  was  soon  at  work,  creating  a  degree  of  real  terror. 
The  Forty-first  Ohio  was  the  first,  and,  for  some  time,  the 
principal  sufferer.  It  was  encamped  upon  the  same  ridge  with 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  in  close  proximity ;  the  men  of  both  regi 
ments  went  to  the  same  stream  for  water;  the  same  care  was 
taken  in  policing  their  respective  grounds ;  and  if  either  regi 
ment  had  the  advantage  in  regard  to  the  supply  of  tents  and 
camp  equipage  it  belonged  to  the  Forty-first.  But  the  latter 
was  comparatively  a  new  regiment,  and  the  discipline  of  its 
commander,  which  eventually  brought  it  to  the  highest  stand 
ard  of  efficiency  and  gave  it  rank  with  the  very  flower  of 
the  army,  at  first  proved  a  severe  and  exhausting  ordeal. 
These  causes,  in  connection  with  others,  swelled  its  sick  list 
to  an  alarming  magnitude;  though,  somewhat  later,  an  In 
diana  regiment  took  precedence  of  it  in  this  unenviable  par 
ticular. 

Meantime,  the  health  of  the  Sixth  was  such  as  to  excite 
general  marvel  and  win  golden  opinions  for  the  regiment  at 
division  head-quarters.  Statistics  prove  that,  for  healthful- 
ness,  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  no  rival  among  the  troops  serving  in 
the  region  between  the  Alleghanies  and  the  Mississippi  River, 


CAMP  WICKLIFFE.  185 

during  the  winter  of  1861-2,  and,  at  no  period,  was  much  sur 
passed  by  any  regiment  in  the  entire  army.* 

It  did  not  lose  a  man  by  death  at  Camp  Wickliffe,  and  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  its  rate  of  mortality  from  disease  con 
tinued  to  the  day  of  its  muster-out  lower  than  that  of  any  other 

*  In  support  of  this  statement  there  is  abundance  of  wholly  disinter 
ested  testimony.  One  authority  we  must  be  pardoned  for  quoting  at 
length.  In  an  able  and  carefully-digested  paper,  entitled  "Sanitary  Con 
dition  of  the  Army,"  which  appeared  in  "  the  Atlantic  Monthly,"  for  Oc 
tober,  1862,  Dr.  Edward  Jarvis,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  gives  the  fol 
lowing  interesting  statistics :  "  The  excellent  reports  of  the  inquiries  of  the 
Sanitary  Commission  give  much  important  and  trustworthy  information  in 
regard  to  the  amount  and  kind  of  sickness  in  the  present  army  of  the 
United  States.  Most  of  the  encampments  of  all  the  corps  have  been  ex 
amined  by  their  inspectors,  and  their  returns  show  that  the  average  num 
ber  of  sick,  during  the  seven  months  ending  with  February  last,  was, 
among  the  troops  who  were  recruited  in  New  England  74.6,  among  those 
from  the  Middle  States  56.6,  and,  during  six  months  ending  with  Janu 
ary,  among  those  from  the  Western  States,  104.3  in  1,000  men.  From 
an  examination  of  217  regiments,  during  two  months  ending  the  middle 
of  February  [exactly  covering  the  period  of  the  occupation  of  Camp  Wick 
liffe],  the  rate  of  sickness  among  the  troops  in  the  Eastern  Sanitary  Depart 
ment  was  74,  in  the  Central  Department,  Western  Virginia  and  Ohio,  90, 
and  in  the  Western,  107  in  1,000.  The  highest  rate  in  Eastern  Virginia 
was  281  per  1,000,  in  the  Fifth  Vermont;  and  the  lowest  9,  in  the  Seventh 
Massachusetts.  In  the  Central  Department,  the  highest  was  260,  in  the 
Forty-first  Ohio;  and  the  lowest  17,  in  the  Sixth  Ohio.  In  the  Western 
Department,  [west  of  the  Mississipi,]  the  highest  was  340,  in  the  Forty- 
second  Illinois;  and  the  lowest  15,  in  the  Thirty-sixth  Illinois." 

The  medical  records  of  the  Fourth  Division,  for  the  period  under  con 
sideration,  show  that,  while  some  regiments  were  reporting  from  200  to 
390  sick,  for  several  days  together,  the  Sixth  Ohio  rarely  had  as  many  as 
25  excused  from  duty,  and  sometimes  as  low  as  5  or  6.  The  standing 
of  the  Fifty-first  Ohio  and  Thirty-fourth  Indiana,  in  point  of  healthful- 
ness,  was  also  very  good. 


186  THE  STOEY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

organization  in  the  field.  Dr.  Stephens  relates  the  following 
conversation  which  took  place  one  day  at  Camp  Wickliffe,  be 
tween  General  Nelson  and  himself: 

"  How  many  men  in  your  hospital  to-day,  Doctor  ?  " 

"  One,  sir." 

"How  many  excused  from  duty?" 

"  Four,  sir." 

"Devilish  strange,  sir!  devilish  strange!  I  have  just  come 
back  from  two  of  the  regiments  right  above  you,  and  in  them 
it  takes  all  the  well  to  wait  on  the  sick  and  bury  the  dead. 
How  do  you  account  for  such  a  difference  in  the  health  of 
my  regiments,  Doctor?" 

"Partly,  General,  by  the  fact  that  ours  is  a  city  regiment. 
Our  men  have  always  been  used  to  taking  care  of  themselves, 
they  are  independent  and  self-reliant,  they  never  get  home 
sick.  Then,  too,  the  city -bred  are  generally  less  regular  in 
their  habits  than  men  brought  up  in  the  country,  and  more 
accustomed  to  keeping  all  sorts  of  hours,  as  soldiers  have  to 
do.  But  I  think  the  principal  reason,  General,  why  our  boys 
are  so  healthy  is  that  they  all  like  dean  water.  They  bathe  at 
all  hours  and  in  all  seasons,  while  a  great  many  others  seem 
never  to  think  of  doing  such  a  thing,  unless  actually  suffering 
from  heat." 

"  That  is  true,  sir.  I  have  often  noticed  it  myself.  Wher 
ever  there  is  a  puddle  of  water,  you  will  find  a  squad  of  Sixth 
Ohio  men,  with  their  soap  and  towels,  even  when  it  is  cold 
enough  to  freeze  the  water  on  their  backs." 

The  neat  appearance  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  on  inspection,  and 
the  unusual  cleanliness  of  its  camp,  propitiated  General  Nel 
son's  favor  still  further,  and  on  one  occasion  drew  from  him  the 
decided  compliment  of  ordering  the  colonel  of  a  neighboring 
regiment  to  send  a  sergeant  from  each  of  his  companies  to  visit 


CAMP    WICKLIFFE.  187 

and  take  pattern  from  the  camp  of  the  Sixth  Ohio — an  order 
which  was  reluctantly  obeyed. 

Early  in  January,  the  division  received  the  considerable  ac 
cession  of  four  new  regiments,  namely,  the  Sixth  Kentucky, 
and  the  Forty-sixth,  Forty-seventh,  and  Fiftieth  Indiana. 
The  first  three  were  associated  with  the  Forty-first  Ohio,  to 
constitute  the  Nineteenth  Brigade,  under  the  command  of  Col 
onel  Hazen,  while  the  Fiftieth  Indiana  replaced  that  officer's 
own  regiment  in  the  Fifteenth  Brigade.  Two  companies  of 
the  Michigan  Mechanics  and  Engineers  (the  organization 
which  was  afterward  known  as  the  "  First  Michigan  Engineer 
Corps"),  under  command  of  Major  Enos  Hopkins,  had  arrived 
a  few  days  earlier,  and  were  attached,  for  drill  purposes,  to  the 
Forty-first  Ohio.  Two  companies  of  cavalry,  composed  prin 
cipally  of  Germans,  had  also  joined  the  division,  for  courier 
and  outpost  duty. 

In  the  second  week  of  January,  General  Nelson  had  a  con 
gestive  chill,  which  confined  him  to  his  room  at  the  neighbor 
ing  farm-house  (Mr.  McDougal's)  for  some  days.  Colonel 
Hascall,  who  was  ill  at  the  same  time,  obtained  a  short  leave 
of  absence,  and  thus  Colonel  Bosley,  as  ranking  officer,  was 
temporarily  left  in  command  of  the  brigade. 

Immediately  upon  the  arrival  of  his  third  brigade,  as  above 
mentioned,  General  Nelson  ordered  an  exchange  of  arms 
throughout  the  division,  "  so  that  no  regiment  should  have 
rifles  of  different  calibers."  Accordingly,  on  the  12th  of  Jan 
uary,  the  Sixth  Ohio  transferred  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  of  its  "Greenwood  muskets"  to  the  Fiftieth  Indiana, 
and  two  hundred  and  seventy-four  to  the  Fifteenth  Indiana, 
receiving,  in  exchange,  Enfield  and  Belgian  rifles.  Many  of 
the  latter  were  in  bad  condition,  and  never  proved  equal,  in 
point  of  serviceability,  to  the  old  "  flint-locks  altered."  On  the 


188  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

following  day,  the  regiment  received  a  supply  of  Sibley,  in 
place  of  the  English  bell  tents — five  for  each  company.  Al 
though  considerable  crowding  was  still  necessary,  this  exchange 
was,  upon  the  whole,  a  very  desirable  one. 

The  regimental  order-book  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  shows  that 
several  boards  of  survey  were  appointed  at  Camp  Wickliffe, 
principally  for  the  examination  of  various  stores  in  the  pos 
session  of  Quartermaster  Shoemaker,  but  their  proceedings  were 
comparatively  unimportant.  Of  courts-martial,  there  were  two. 
The  first,  which  was  in  session  during  the  last  week  of  De 
cember,  consisted  of  Captains  Westcott  and  Clarke,  and  Lieu 
tenants  Getty,  Morgan,  and  Royse,  with  Captain  Erwin  as 
Judge  Advocate.  The  second  met  on  the  3d  of  January,  and 
was  composed  of  Captain  Clarke,  and  Lieutenants  Morgan  and 
Royse,  Captain  Tatem  acting  as  Judge  Advocate.  Thirty-three 
cases  in  all  were  tried  by  these  courts,  several  of  them  result 
ing  in  acquittals.  The  offenses  charged  were  unauthorized  ab 
sence  from  camp,  roll-call,  or  drill,  and  the  like  derelictions, 
none  of  them  calling  for  any  severer  punishment  than  a  little 
extra  duty,  forfeiture  of  a  few  dollars  of  pay,  or  confinement 
in  the  guard-house  on  bread  and  water. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  Adjutant  Heron  started  for  Cincin 
nati,  upon  a  seven  days'  leave  of  absence,  granted,  as  the  order 
expressly  stated,  "for  his  attention  to  duty  while  passing 
through  Cincinnati."  General  Reynolds'  military  household 
having  been  broken  up,  Lieutenant  William  P.  Anderson  re 
ported  at  Camp  Wickliffe,  on  the  2d  of  February,  and  was 
immediately  detailed  as  aid-de-camp  on  General  Nelson's  staff. 
About  the  same  time  Philip  Cobb  succeeded  Andy  Hall  as 
sutler  of  the  Sixth  Ohio. 

Early  in  1862,  Lieutenant  Jesse  Merrill,  an  officer  of  the 


CAMP  WICKLIFFE.  189 

Seventh  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  who  had  proven 
very  efficient  in  the  signal  corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
was  ordered  West  to  extend  the  system  throughout  the  Army 
of  the  Ohio.  The  excellent  detail  furnished  by  the  Sixth  Ohio 
for  this  service  consisted  of  Second  Lieutenant  Sheridan,  Cor 
poral  Robert  Howdon,  Company  E ;  and  privates  William  F. 
Doepke  and  Frederick  H.  Alms,  Company  D. 

On  the  26th  of  January,  in  compliance  with  orders  for  the 
detail  of  a  recruiting  party  from  each  regiment  in  the  division, 
the  following  members  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  ordered  to  re 
port,  without  delay,  to  Major  N.  C.  Macrae,  Superintendent 
of  Recruiting  Service  for  the  State  of  Ohio,  namely,  Lieuten 
ants  Royse  and  Morris ;  Sergeant  J.  W.  Easley,  Company  G ; 
Sergeant  S.  Austin  Thayer,  Company  B;  Corporal  John 
Crotty,  Company  C;  and  private  Charles  M.  Thompson, 
Company  A.  Upon  reaching  Columbus,  Sergeant  Thayer 
found  a  commission  awaiting  him  in  another  command ;  and 
the  rest  of  the  party,  having  quite  failed  of  success,  in  March 
were  ordered  to  the  regiment. 

One  of  the  Stewart's  Run  prisoners,  private  Matthias  Sie- 
bert,  returned  to  the  regiment  during  the  last  week  in  Janu 
ary,  having  secured  his  early  release  by  stratagem.  While 
acting  as  nurse  in  a  prisoners'  hospital,  Siebert  one  day  saw 
the  announcement  in  a  Richmond  paper  that  a  large  number 
of  Union  prisoners  were  about  to  be  exchanged,  those  captured 
at  Manassas  to  go  first.  He  contrived  to  pass  himself  off  for 
one  of  the  favored  class,  and  in  a  few  days  was  on  his  way 
to  Washington.  Another  of  the  Company  I  captives,  private 
Eli  Miller,  rejoined  the  regiment  soon  afterward. 

Toward  the  close  of  January,  the  oft-repeated  rumors  of  a 
forward  movement  began  to  assume  definite  shape.  Acting 


190  THE  STORY  OF  A   REGIMENT. 

under  instructions,  of  course,  from  the  department  commander, 
General  Nelson  was  evidently  "  clearing  the  decks  "  for  action. 
With  a  prudent  forecast  of  the  necessities  which  might  arise, 
when  the  command  should  make  its  anticipated  advance,  he 
had  previously  forbidden  the  collection  of  forage  from  the 
country  toward  Green  River ;  the  wagons  had  been  prepared 
and  the  mules  shod ;  all  the  gunsmiths  in  camp  had  been 
sought  out,  and  were  busily  at  work  in  repairing  defective 
arms;  the  sick  had  been  sent  to  general  hospital,  and  now  a 
barracks  was  established  at  Nelson's  Furnace,  near  New  Ha 
ven,  for  the  care  of  "  convalescents."*  Colonel  Bosley,  whose 
health  had  been  unsettled  for  several  months,  was  placed  in 
command  at  the  latter,  and,  on  the  6th  of  February,  left  the 
regiment,  never  to  be  with  it  more,  save  for  a  few  days  shortly 
after  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  February  5th,  the  troops  received 
marching  orders,  indicating  a  change  of  camp — from  sanitary 
considerations,  as  was  understood  f — but  foreshadowing,  as 
well,  a  general  advance  upon  the  enemy  beyond  Green  River. 
The  Tenth  Brigade  was  directed  to  move  upon  the  7th,  which 
it  did,  marching  southward,  on  the  turnpike,  about  ten  miles, 
to  Shipps'.  It  was  intended  that  the  Nineteenth  and  Fifteenth 
-Brigades  should  follow,  at  intervals  of  one  day;  but  further 
movements  were  restrained  by  advices  from  General  Buell. 

*  In  a  division  order,  dated  February  1,  a  list  is  given  of  the  number 
of  convalescents  sent  to  the  barracks,  from  several  regiments  at  Camp 
Wickliffe,  as  follows:  From  the  Sixth  Ohio,  8;  Seventeenth  Indiana,  35; 
Fifteenth  Indiana,  47 ;  Fiftieth  Indiana,  60 ;  Forty-seventh  Indiana,  46. 

f  In  consequence  of  the  great  amount  of  sickness  at  Camp  Wickliffe, 
General  Buell  had  determined  to  encamp  the  Fourth  Division  elsewhere, 
and  directed  Dr.  Bradford  to  select  a  more  healthy  location.  The  latter 
was  furnished  with  one  hundred  men,  as  an  escort,  for  this  duty,  and 
promptly  made  a  written  report  to  General  Buell;  but,  before  its  suggestions 
could  be  acted  on,  the  division  received  marching  orders  for  West  Point. 


CAMP    WICKLTFFE.  191 

For  a  series  of  operations  in  another  quarter,  which,  although 
projected  scarcely  two  weeks  before,  were  now  in  course  of  rapid 
development,  had  changed  the  aspect  of  the  entire  campaign. 
The  Army  of  the  Ohio  was  indeed  to  possess  the  coveted  strat 
egic  center,  Bowling  Green,  and  to  pass  far  and  rapidly  beyond 
it;  but  the  blows  which  should  open  the  way  for  these  grand 
results  were  already  being  struck  by  the  gallant  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  The  glorious  initiative  of  the  campaign,  however, 
belonged  to  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  General  Thomas'  division 
of  which  had  fought  and  won  Mill  Springs  three  weeks  before. 
The  day  was  raw  and  gloomy  on  which  the  tidings  of  that  de 
cisive  victory  reached  Camp  Wickliffe,  and,  the  ground  being 
very  muddy,  drills  were  entirely  suspended.  About  1  P.  M., 
the  Sixth  Ohio  was  called  into  line,  by  a  hurriedly-beaten 
drum-call,  when  Adjutant  Heron  read  the  following: 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  11. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION,  ARMY  OF  THE  OHIO,  ) 
CAMP  WICKLIFFE,  January  21,  1862.          ) 

The  Brigadier-General  takes-  great  pleasure  in  informing  the 
division  that  General  Thomas  carried  Zollicoffer's  position  [day 
before]  yesterday,  by  assault,  killing  Zollicoffer  himself  and  four 
hundred  of  his  men,  and  taking  all  his  arms  and  artillery  and  a 
great  many  prisoners.  A  glorious  victory!  "The  Union  must 
and  shall  be  preserved  !  " 

By  order  of 

GENERAL  NELSON. 
J.  MILLS  KENDRICK,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  moment  the  reading  was  over,  a  murmur  of  hardly- 
repressed  enthusiasm  ran  down  the  line ;  and  an  impulsive  cap 
tain  in  the  left  wing  stepped  out  of  ranks,  and  cried,  "  Hip, 
hip — "  but  before  he  could  add  the  final  word,  was  interrupted 


192  THE  STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

by  the  command  from  Colonel  Bosley,  "Stack  arms!"  fol 
lowed  by  "Three  cheers  for  the  Union  and  General  Thomas' 
victory ! " 

They  were  given  with  a  will — three  strong,  full-voiced, 
exultant  shouts,  such  as  one  might  have  sworn  were  loyal  ones 
at  the  distance  of  a  mile  away. 

"  Now  a  tiger !  "  After  which  the  battalion  was  dismissed. 
Similar  scenes  were  enacted  in  every  regiment  on  the  ground. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  intelligence  came  of  the  capture 
of  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee;  then  the  story  of  Burn- 
side's  success  at  Roanoke  Island;  and  on  the  13th,  march 
ing  orders.  General  Grant  had  invested  Fort  Donelson,  and 
thither  the  Fourth  Division  was  ordered  as  reinforcements. 


FROM   CAMP   WICKLIFFE   TO   NASHVILLE.  193 


CHAPTER    XV. 
FROM   CAMP  WICKLIFFE   TO   NASHVILLE. 

(FEBRUARY  14-25,  1862.) 

WHEN  the  Fourth  Division  received  its  marching  orders, 
the  Nineteenth  Brigade  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  all 
that  remained  at  Camp  Wickliffe.  The  Fifteenth,  Seventeenth, 
and  Fiftieth  Indiana — the  associates  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  the 
Fifteenth  Brigade — had  followed  the  Tenth  Brigade  toward 
Green  River,  on  the  10th  of  February ;  soon  after  which  they 
were  permanently  detached  from  General  Nelson's  command. 
The  first  two  were  transferred  to  the  Sixth  Division,  in  whose 
organization  (now  being  completed  under  General  Thomas  J. 
Wood,  at  Bardstown,  Kentucky)  the  colonels  of  both  regi 
ments  were  appointed  to  the  command  of  brigades. 

The  afternoon  of  February  13th  was  passed  in  busy  prep 
arations  for  the  march;  in  the  evening  a  snow-storm  set  in, 
and  before  morning  the  weather  had  turned  very  cold.  But 
reveille  was  punctually  beaten  at  4  A.  M.  of  Friday,  the  14th, 
and  three  hours  later  the  column  started,  the  Sixth  Ohio  in 
the  rear  of  the  Nineteenth  Brigade.  Leaving  the  turnpike 
two  miles  south  of  Camp  Wickliffe,  the  troops  took  a  narrow 
country  road  which  leads  off  on  the  right,  through  Hodgens- 
ville,  the  county  seat  of  La  Rue  County.  That  village  they 
passed  about  11  A.  M.,  by  which  time  the  sun  was  shining 
13 


194  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

with  power,  and  the  road  had  become  quite  heavy.  Late  in 
the  afternoon  they  reached  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  turn 
pike,  at  a  point  about  two  miles  south  of  Elizabethtown,  where 
they  immediately  went  into  bivouac,  after  an  exhausting  march 
of  fifteen  miles.  The  wagons  had  mired  two  miles  or  more 
before  reaching  Hodgensville.  It  was  a  bitter  cold  night,  with 
three  inches  of  snow  on  the  ground,  and  the  men  suffered,  in 
spite  of  fence-rail  fires,  and  the  bedding  of  straw  with  which 
most  of  them  had  managed  to  provide  themselves. 

While  the  brigade,  next  day,  lay  idly  waiting  for  its  trains, 
a  hundred  rumors  were  put  in  circulation  regarding  the  move 
ments  of  Buell's  army.  General  Mitchel  had  marched  rapidly 
upon  Bowling  Green,  on  the  13th  instant,  and  was  actually 
in  possession  of  that  stronghold,  which  fact,  however,  was  not 
yet  known;  and  when,  during  the  forenoon,  the  troops  saw 
an  artillery  train  from  the  Green  River  camps  turned  hastily 
back,  and  sent  toward  Munfordville,  many  readily  accepted 
the  explanation  that  Mitchel  was  in  urgent  need  of  reenforce- 
ments,  and  wondered  whether  the  Fourth  Division  also  would 
be  ordered  to  his  relief.  Utterly  at  fault  though  these  conjec 
tures  were,  one  regiment  on  the  ground  did  narrowly  escape 
making  the  long  march  to  Nashville,  in  the  footsteps  of  Gen 
eral  Mitchel — a  department  order,  dated  February  llth,  hav 
ing  transferred  the  Sixth  Ohio  to  the  Twenty-second  Brigade, 
Colonel  Saunders  D.  Bruce  commanding,  which  it  was  directed 
to  join,  without  delay,  in  the  vicinity  of  Munfordville.  Gen 
eral  Nelson  immediately  telegraphed  for  permission  to  retain 
the  regiment,  if  only  as  a  personal  favor;  but  it  was  not  un 
til  the  column  was  again  on  the  march — the  Sixth  Ohio  in  its 
place,  and  every  step  lengthening  the  distance  between  it  and 
Munfordville — that  General  BuelPs  welcome  answer  came: 
"  The  Sixth  Ohio  will  remain  in  the  Fourth  Division."  About 


FROM    CAMP   WICKLIFFE   TO    NASHVILLE.  195 

three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Colonel  Ammen's  brigade  ap 
peared  in  sight  from  the  direction  of  Hodgensville,  and,  filing  out 
upon  the  turnpike,  continued  its  march  toward  Elizabethtown. 
The  Nineteenth  Brigade  immediately  followed,  and  did  not  halt 
until  overtaken  by  night-fall,  six  miles  from  its  last  bivouac,  and 
four  miles  north  of  Elizabethtown.  The  wagons  still  being  be 
hind,  and,  in  consequence,  many  of  the  men  suffering  from  hun 
ger,  Lieutenant  Peck  was  sent  back  to  hasten  them  forward, 
which  he  did  with  his  accustomed  energy.  The  troops  passed 
another  cold  night  in  much  the  same  manner  as  before. 

Next  morning — Sunday,  February  16th — one  day's  rations 
were  issued  the  Sixth  Ohio  from  the  stores  belonging  to  Com 
panies  F  and  G,  whose  wagons  had  fortunately  come  up  during 
the  night,  and  by  sunrise  the  column  was  again  in  motion.  A 
march  of  eighteen  miles  brought  it  to  another  camping-place  al 
most  within  sight  of  West  Point;  the  trains  were  soon  on  the 
ground,  tents  wrere  pitched,  and  more  rations  issued,  and,  not 
withstanding  a  steady  rain,  the  night  was  passed  most  comfort 
ably.  West  Point  is  a  decayed-looking  village  on  the  Ohio,  at 
the  mouth  of  Salt  River,  twenty-five  miles  below  Louisville. 
Here  a  fleet  of  steamboats  had  been  ordered  to  rendezvous,  for 
the  purpose  of  transporting  the  Fourth  Division  to  Fort  Don- 
elson,  where  considerable  fighting  had  taken  place,  but,  up  to 
the  date  of  the  latest  dispatches,  without  decisive  results.  Two 
volunteer  batteries  had  joined  the  column  the  day  before,  and 
now,  for  the  first  time,  the  troops  began  to  comprehend  the  real 
object  of  the  expedition. 

At  dark,  on  Sunday  evening,  only  two  boats  had  arrived, 
but  the  succeeding  dawn  discovered  sixteen  of  them,  some, 
already  freighted  with  stores,  lying  out  in  the  Ohio,  and  the 
remainder  pushed  up  into  the  mouth  of  Salt  River.  The  day 
was  raw,  with  a  cold,  drizzling  rain.  The  landing  was  nearly 


196 


THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


two  miles  distant,  and  when  the  Sixth  Ohio  reached  it,  about  9 
A.  M.,  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  rapidly  embarking,  in  the  man 
ner  indicated  in  the  following  order : 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  17. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION,      ) 
CAMP  AT  MOUTH  OF  SALT  KIVER,  Feb.  16,  1862.  I 

The  following  is  the  order  of  embarkation: 
24th  Ohio  Volunteers,  on  the  Autocrat, 


51st     « 
3Gth  Ind. 
6th  Ohio 


John  Raine, 

Woodford, 

Diana. 


Tenth  Brigade, 
Colonel  Ammen. 


41stOV. 
47th  Ind. 

46th  Ind. 
6th  Ky. 


(  right  wing  on  the  Silver  Moon, 
1  left       "         "        Lady  Jackson. 
( right    "         "        Glendale, 
j  left       "         "        Lady  Pike. 
Cos.  A,  F,  D,  and  I  on  the  Zilla. 
"     C,  H,  and  E  on  the  City  of  Madison. 
"     K,  G,  and  B,  on  the  Golden  State, 
right  wing  on  the  City  of  Madison, 
left       "         "        Switzerland. 


Nineteenth 

Brigade, 
Col.  Hazen. 


One  company  of  the  Michigan  Engineers  will  embark  on  board 
the  Autocrat,  and  the  other  on  board  the  Golden  State.  The 
34th  Indiana  Volunteers  will  be  divided  between  the  steamers,  by 
verbal  orders,  at  the  moment  of  embarkation. 

The  Brigadier-General  commanding  the  Division  will  embark 
on  board  the  Diana. 

The  steamers  will  move  in  two  columns,  in  the  following  order : 


Diana, 
John  Raine, 


Autocrat, 
Woodford. 


Interval. 


Tenth 
Brigade. 


FROM   CAMP   WICKLIFFE   TO   NASHVILLE.  197 

Silver  Moon,  Lady  Jackson, 

Glendale,  Lady  Pike, 

City  of  Madison,  Switzerland,  I  Nineteenth 

Brigade. 
Zilla,  Lancaster,  No.  4. 

Golden  State, 

This  order  of  moving  will  be  strictly  observed,  the  regiments 
moving  to  the  landing  in  the  order  herein  mentioned.  Three 
days'  rations  will  be  drawn  and  cooked  previous  to  embarkation. 

By  command  of 

GENERAL  NELSON. 
J.  MILLS  KENDRICK,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  Diana,  which  General  Nelson  had  selected  as  the  flag 
ship,  was  comparatively  a  new  boat,  and  the  most  commodious 
in  the  fleet,  having  originally  been  built  for  the  New  Orleans 
trade.  It  was  crowded — deck,  hold,  and  cabin — for  it  carried, 
in  addition  to  the  General  and  his  entire  head-quarters'  estab 
lishment,  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  which  was  exactly  eight 
hundred  strong,  two  companies  of  the  Thirty-fourth  Indiana, 
and  a  detachment  of  cavalry,  with  all  the  horses,  mules,  and 
wagons  belonging  to  these  commands.  Early  in  the  forenoon 
General  Nelson  had  received  intelligence  of  the  terrific  fighting 
at  Fort  Donelson  on  the  previous  Saturday,  but,  with  the  ut 
most  dispatch  possible,  the  embarkation  was  not  completed 
until  near  dark;  soon  after  which  the  whole  fleet  steamed 
down  the  Ohio. 

Tuesday,  the  eighteenth,  was  clear  and  cold.  About  9  A.  M. 
the  Diana  reached  Cannelton,  at  which  place  dispatches  were 
received  announcing  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson,  whereupon 
General  Nelson  hastened  to  the  hurricane  deck  and  read  them 
to  his  division.  Cheer  upon  cheer  followed  from  all  over  the 
fleet,  the  bands  struck  up  the  "Star-spangled  Banner,"  and 


198  THE   STOKY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

the  citizens  on  shore  produced  a  two-pounder  cannon,  which 
was  soon  lending  its  liliputian  roar  to  swell  the  general  re 
joicing.  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  had  done  its  work  un 
aided,  and  there  was  nothing  now  for  the  Fourth  Division  to 
do  at  Donelson.  General  Nelson  was  instructed  to  proceed  to 
Evansville  and  there  await  further  orders;  which  he  did,  the 
Tenth  Brigade,  meanwhile,  moving  on  to  Smithland. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  destination  of  the  division 
not  yet  having  been  determined,  the  Diana  moved  up  to  the 
mouth  of  Green  River,  ten  miles  above  Evansville,  where  that 
portion  of  the  fleet  which  was  still  in  company  with  the  flag 
ship  remained  all  day,  closely  hugging  the  icy  bank  of  a  low, 
wooded  island,  almost  out  of  sight  and  sound  of  human  hab 
itation. 

About  4  A.  M.,  on  the  20th,  the  Diana  again  dropped  down 
the  river  to  Evansville,  where  Nelson  had  an  interview  with 
General  Thomas  L.  Crittenden,  commanding  the  Fifth  Divis 
ion  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  on  board  the  steamer  Atlantic. 
The  residue  of  the  fleet  was,  meantime,  making  the  best  of 
its  way  up  the  river,  having  been  ordered  back  to  West 
Point,  there  to  disembark  the  troops.  About  9  A.  M.,  how 
ever,  orders  came  from  General  Buell  to  proceed,  with  the  en 
tire  division,  to  Paducah ;  and,  in  high  spirits,  General  Nelson 
returned  to  the  Diana,  ordered  every  pound  of  steam  raised 
that  the  boilers  would  safely  bear,  and,  while  every  timber  in 
the  boats  quivered  to  the  strokes  of  the  piston  below,  started 
up  the  Ohio  to  overhaul  and  turn  back  the  rest  of  his  divis 
ion.  By  dark  the  flag-ship  was  again  at  Cannelton,  and  coal 
ing  busily,  with  the  W.  "W.  Crawford  lying  along-side — a  swal 
low-like  little  craft,  used  by  General  Buell  as  a  dispatch  boat. 

At  reveille  on  the  21st  (for  Jake  Fifer  beat  the  calls  as 
punctually  as  though  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  resting  cosily  in 


FROM   CAMP   WICKLIFFE   TO   NASHVILLE.  199 

camp),  the  Diana  was  passing  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash.  It 
was  a  pleasant  day,  and  the  hurricane  deck  was  crowded  with 
soldiery  engaged  in  noting  the  scenery  and  every  object  of  in 
terest  on  the  bank.  Past  Shawneetown,  on  the  Illinois  shore; 
past  Cave-in-the-rock  (the  robbers'  den  of  former  days),  with 
all  its  weird  legends ;  past  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  up 
which  the  troops  caught  their  first  eager  glimpse  of  a  gunboat ; 
past  Smithland,  with  its  background  of  fortified  hills,  whence 
the  Stars  and  Stripes  flapped  welcome  to  the  Fourth  Division ; 
and,  at  1  P.  M.,  the  Diana  rounded  to  at  Paducah,  and  tied 
up  just  abovje  the  Marine  Hospital.  Here  the  Thirty-fourth, 
Forty-sixth,  and  Forty-seventh  Indiana  were  detached  from 
Nelson's  division  for  service  under  General  Pope.  What 
remained  of  the  Fourth  Division — namely,  six  regiments  of 
infantry,  two  batteries  of  artillery,  and  two  companies  of 
cavalry — lay  at  Paducah,  for  nearly  two  days,  awaiting  or 
ders.  Nashville,  which  had  not  yet  been  occupied  by  Union 
troops,  was  the  prize  which  Nelson  coveted.  General  Grant, 
under  positive  instructions  from  Halleck,  had  moved  no 
portion  of  his  forces  further  up  the  Cumberland  than  Clarks- 
ville;  but  Mitchel,  a  most  determined  marcher,  was  making 
a  bold  push  southward  from  Bowling  Green,  and  hours  were 
precious.  Under  his  enforced  delay,  Nelson  grew  more  and 
more  impatient. 

On  Sunday  morning,  February  23d,  the  anxiously-awaited 
orders  came ;  by  nine  o'clock  the  whole  fleet  was  steaming  up 
the  Ohio,  and,  at  Smithland  entering  the  mouth  of  the  Cum 
berland,  bore  away  toward  Nashville.  "  It  was  a  bright,  glo 
rious  day/'  says  the  diary  from  which  we  have  already  trans 
ferred  several  pictures  of  army  life,  "  a  fitting  herald  of  the 
spring  now  so  near  at  hand.  Save  half  an  hour's  work  in 
scrubbing  the  cabin  (a  duty  for  which  a  considerable  squad 


200  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

was  detailed  this  morning),  I  spent  nearly  the  whole  of  it, 
until  bed-time,  on  the  hurricane  deck.  Amid  such  surround 
ings,  and  in  such  spirits  as  the  men  all  are,  it  was  impossible 
not  to  enjoy  the  trip  most  keenly.  The  Cumberland  being 
over  its  banks,  we  were  continually  passing  almost  whole  farms 
under  water,  little  volcanic-looking  peaks  of  hay-stacks  and 
miniature  reefs  of  corn-shocks  indicating  the  real  character 
of  what  otherwise  resembled  broad  lagoons.  About  half-past 
three  in  the  afternoon  we  met  the  steamer  John  H.  Dickey, 
from  Fort  Donelson.  General  Nelson  mounted  the  wheel- 
house  (to  our  no  small  alarm  at  first,  lest  he  had  overestimated 
its  capacity  to  sustain  so  much  avoirdupois),  and  hailed,  'Is 
Nashville  taken?'  'Yes!'  shouted  a  dozen  voices  in  reply. 
Without  making  any  comments,  the  general  descended,  and 
we — shall  we  believe  it  or  not?  Soon  after  this  we  entered 
a  more  mountainous  country,  passing  Eddysville  about  half- 
past  four.  It  was  dark  long  before  we  reached  the  Tennessee 
line,  and  all  hope  of  seeing  Fort  Donelson  had  to  be  given  up. 
Going  below  when  tattoo  sounded,  I  was  soon  sleeping  a  rest 
less,  troubled  sleep,  disturbed  by  half-waking  dreams  and  half- 
sleeping  reveries  made  up  of  confused,  kaleidoscopic  combina 
tions  of  those  absorbing  topics — Donelson,  Clarksville,  Nash 
ville  ;  Nelson,  Buell,  Mitchel,  Grant ;  and,  as  always,  HOME  ! 
The  night  was  dark,  and  the  river  full  of  heavy  drift,  but  the 
Diana,  having  slackened  her  speed  somewhat,  bore  steadily  on. 
About  three  in  the  morning  I  was  awakened  by  a  tremendous 
crash,  and,  rushing  on  deck,  found  the  General  giving  the  pilot 
( Hail  Columbia J  for  having  mistaken  the  channel  and  run  the 
boat  into  the  woods ;  and,  although  examination  showed  that 
no  serious  damage  had  been  done,  it  was  thought  best  to  lay  by 
until  daylight,  especially  as  most  of  the  other  boats  were  an  un 
known  distance  in  the  rear." 


FROM   CAMP   WICKLIFFE   TO   NASHVILLE.  201 

About  sunrise,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the  steamer  Ti 
gress  was  met  coming  from  Clarksville,  and  Nelson  had  a  brief 
conference  with  General  Grant,  who  was  on  board,  during  which 
he  learnt  that  Nashville  was  not  yet  taken.  Passing  the  gun 
boat  Louisville  at  half-past  eight  o'clock,  the  Diana  approached 
Clarksville.  Flags  of  truce,  improvised  from  all  sorts  of  white- 
colored  stuff,  were  hung  out  from  nearly  half  the  buildings  along 
the  shore,  originally  intended,  no  doubt,  for  the  propitiation  of 
the  gunboats,  whose  advance,  under  Commodore  Foote,  had 
reached  here  on  the  19th  instant;  while  two  or  three  premises 
were  passed  which  had  been  left  under  the  aegis  of  the  British 
lion,  or,  in  other  words,  displayed  the  national  ensign  of  Eng 
land.  Half  a  mile  below  the  town  was  an  extensive  fortification, 
partially  finished,  with  a  few  guns  actually  in  position,  and  com 
manding  perfectly  the  river  channel.  Every  thing  had  been 
hurriedly  abandoned,  however,  upon  the  fall  of  Donelson,  and 
a  large  rolling-mill  near  by,  which  had  been  turning  out  im 
mense  quantities  of  ordnance  stores  for  the  enemy,  was  now  a 
black,  fire-blasted  heap  of  ruins.  Floyd's  brigade,  in  its  flight 
from  Fort  Donelson,  had  also  destroyed  one  span  of  the  turn- 
bridge  on  the  Memphis  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

Clarksville  had  been  taken  possession  of,  on  the  21st,  by  a 
brigade  under  General  Charles  F.  Smith,  and  still  wore  a  very 
deserted  appearance.  The  Diana  had  been  lying  nearly  three 
hours  at  the  landing,  when  two  cavalrymen  dashed  into  the 
town  with  dispatches  from  General  Buell,  at  Bowling  Green. 
They  had  been  twenty- five  hours  in  the  saddle,  and  brought 
welcome  tidings  for  the  Fourth  Division.  Mitchel  positively 
was  not  in  Nashville,  and,  as  the  enemy  in  his  retreat  from 
thence  had  destroyed  both  bridges  across  the  Cumberland,  and 
burned  the  steamboats  at  the  wharf,  the  approaching  fleet 
would  probably  have  to  furnish  ferriage  for  his  forces,  and  was 


202  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

ordered  to  push  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible.  But  Nelson 
needed  no  urging;  it  was  enough  that  the  Fourth  Division 
might  yet  be  the  first  body  of  National  troops  in  Nashville. 
Although  some  of  the  boats  were  still  a  considerable  distance 
in  the  rear,  the  Diana  swung  loose  at  once,  and  all  that  sunny 
afternoon  steamed  steadily  on,  four  companies  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio  occupying  the  hurricane  deck,  ready  to  return  the  fire 
of  any  guerrilla  parties  who  might  possibly  be  lurking  on  the 
banks.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  a  water-battery  of  five  guns 
was  discovered  on  an  island  at  the  head  of  Harpeth  Shoals; 
but  it  was  known  that  the  gunboat  Cairo,  Lieutenant  Bryant 
commanding,  was  in  advance,  and,  without  delaying  a  moment 
to  reconnoiter,  the  fleet  passed  on.  Night  settled  upon  the 
surrounding  scenes,  moonless,  but  clear  and  starlighted,  and 
two  hours  later  the  Cairo  was  overtaken,  laboring  heavily  up 
stream,  in  tow  of  a  steamboat,  Avhich  afterward  proved  to  be 
the  latan,  lately  escaped  from  Nashville.  About  half-past 
nine  the  Cairo  tied  up  for  the  night,  and  in  accordance  with 
his  instructions,  which  had  been  to  follow  in  the  gunboat's 
wake,  General  Nelson  reluctantly  gave  orders  for  the  fleet  to 
follow  the  example.  It  was  fifteen  miles  to  Nashville. 

Early  on  the  bright  and  beautiful  morning  of  Tuesday,  Feb 
ruary  25th,  the  fleet  again  got  under  way.  Seven  miles  below 
Nashville,  by  the  winding  course  of  the  Cumberland,  is  a  high 
bluff,  formed  by  the  channel  cutting  its  way  through  a  range 
of  hills  that  partially  encircles  the  city  on  the  west  and  north ; 
and  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  river  at  this  point,  the  rebels 
had  commenced  an  extensive  earth-work  for  the  defense  of 
Nashville,  naming  it  Fort  ZollicofFer.  Colonel  Ammen,  who 
went  on  shore  to  examine  it,  found  many  cannon,  great  piles 
of  shot  and  shell,  and  immense  quantities  of  railroad  iron ; 
but  not  a  soul  was  in  sight,  and  the  four  large  guns  that  stared 


FROM   CAMP  WICKLIFFE   TO    NASHVILLE.  203 

grimly  at  the  fleet  as  it  passed  below,  were  silent  as  the  grave. 
Hundreds  of  eager  eyes  from  the  decks  of  the  Diana  were 
straining  to  catch  the  first  glimpse  of  the  distant  city,  when, 
as  the  boat  emerged  from  behind  a  screen  of  woodland,  they 
saw,  away  off  to  the  right,  across  a  bend  in  the  river,  the  capi- 
tol  dome  and  the  smoke  and  spires  of  Nashville.  White  flags 
were  growing  more  and  more  numerous  along  the  shore,  but 
no  sign  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  was  visible  anywhere,  no  flag 
floated  over  the  State  House,  and  by  these  tokens  the  troops 
knew  that  they  were  first  at  the  rebel  capital.*  Impatient 
at  the  slow  motion  of  the  gunboat,  General  Nelson  ordered 
the  Diana  to  steam  past  it,  and  make  for  Nashville  with  all 
speed,  having  some  time  before  promised  the  Sixth  Ohio 
the  honor  of  landing  first,  and  hoisting  its  colors  over  the 
capitol  building.  It  was  just  nine  o'clock  when  the  Diana 

*The  Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  Kennett's  gallant  regiment, 
which  formed  the  advance  of  the  forces  marching  overland  from  Bowling 
Green,  reached  Edgefield  Junction  on  the  23d,  and  on  the  24th  a  detach 
ment  of  it,  under  Major  Rodgers,  occupied  Edgefield,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  Cumberland,  opposite  Nashville,  Some  communication  was  had 
with  Mayor  Cheatham  on  the  same  afternoon,  resulting  in  the  appointment 
of  the  hour  of  11  A.  M.,  on  the  25th,  for  a  formal  interview  with  General 
Buell,  and  the  surrender  of  the  city.  The  interview  took  place  as  agreed 
upon,  but  Nelson's  division  had  then  been  in  actual  possession  of  Nash 
ville  for  two  hours.  These  facts  do  not  justify  the  statement  in  "  The 
American  Conflict,"  that  "  Mayor  Cheatham  surrendered  the  city  to  Colo 
nel  Kennett  on  his  arrival,  which  was  before  that  of  General  Nelson's 
command."  It  is  true,  too,  that  on  the  24th  a  few  adventurous  cavalry 
men  crossed  the  river  in  a  dug-out,  and  remained  for  several  minutes 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Nashville,  but  this  no  more  controverts 
the  statement  that  the  Fourth  Division  was  the  first  body  of  National 
troops  in  that  city,  than  the  fact  that  one  or  two  colonels  had  reconnoi- 
tering  parties  out  on  the  morning  of  Shiloh  can  be  held  to  disprove  the 
overwhelming  evidences  of  a  surprise  on  that  occasion.  For  one  whose 


204  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

touched  the  wharf,  where  a  gaping  crowd  had  assembled  to  see 
the  troops  land ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  the  color-bear 
ers  and  guard,  and  Sergeant-Major  Gee  instantly  sprang  on 
shore,  followed  in  rapid  succession  by  the  several  companies, 
who  had  been  ready  formed  for  an  hour  previous,  and  in  less 
than  five  minutes  the  regiment  was  in  line.  It  was  quickly 
broken  into  column  by  platoons,  General  Nelson  took  his  place 
at  the  head,  and,  to  the  inspiriting  strains  of  "Dixie"  from 
the  drums  and  fifes  of  its  field  music,  the  Sixth  Ohio  marched 
through  the  streets  of  Nashville  to  Capitol  Hill,  where  it 
stacked  arms  in  front  of  the  State  House.  The  doors  of  the 
building  were  all  locked,  but  Major  Christopher  was  not  long 
in  finding  the  janitor,  and  compelling  him  to  deliver  the  keys, 
which  he  did  with  a  most  ill  grace,  and  a  few  moments  afterward 
both  flags  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  flung  to  the  breeze  from  the 

figures  and  dates  are  generally  so  reliable,  Greeley  is  singularly  inaccu 
rate  in  his  account  of  the  occupation  of  Nashville,  as  the  following  ex 
tract  further  witnesses:  "From  Clarksville,  Lieutenant  Bryant,  of  the 
Cairo,  followed  by  seven  transports,  conveying  the  brigade  of  General  Nel 
son,  moved  up  the  river  to  Nashville,  where  they  arrived  on  the  twenty- 
fourth"  etc.  As  painstaking  and  usually  discriminating  a  writer  also  as 
Mr.  Swinton  is,  has  made  the  mistake  (in  his  "Twelve  Decisive  Battles 
of  the  War")  of  specifying  the  23d  of  February  as  the  date  of  the  occu 
pation  of  Nashville. 

General  Mitchel,  who  had  made  a  forced  march  from  Bowling  Green, 
felt  that  he  had  fairly  earned  the  honor  of  taking  possession  of  Nashville, 
and  manifested  considerable  pique  to  find  the  coveted  laurels  snatched  by 
another  hand.  The  following  anecdote,  illustrative  of  this  subject,  is 
given  in  a  private  letter:  "When  General  Mitchel  met  Nelson  in  Nash 
ville,  he  said  to  him,  'In  my  opinion,  it  was  very  wrong  to  march  a  single 
regiment  into  a  city  you  knew  nothing  about,  especially  when  you  had  no 
information  whatever  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  troops  toward  you.'  '  I 
know  my  business,  sir,'  was  the  curt  reply ;  '  I  took  a  regiment  with  me 
that  I  could  depend  upon,  one  worth  four  of  some  regiments  ! '  ' 


FKOM   CAMP  WICKLIFFE   TO    NASHVILLE.  205 

dome  of  the  capitol,  amid  a  storm  of  cheers  from  the  troops 
below.  It  was  a  proud  day  for  the  Sixth  Ohio.  The  rebel 
cavalry  had  left  the  city  as  the  head  of  Nelson's  division  en 
tered  it,  and  small  squads  of  them  were  still  skulking  about 
the  suburbs,  watching  their  opportunity  for  more  of  such  acts 
of  deviltry  as  had  made  them  the  dread  of  Nashville  for  a 
week  past.  One  of  their  officers,  partially  disguised,  re 
mained  long  enough,  in  fact,  to  witness  the  landing  of  the 
first  regiment. 

Not  long  after  the  Sixth  Ohio  reached  the  capitol,  an  elderly 
gentleman  approached  Lieutenant- Colonel  Anderson,  and  in 
troducing  himself  as  one  of  the  uncorrupted  Unionists  of  Nash 
ville,  William  Driver  by  name,  asked  to  have  a  squad  of  men 
sent  to  his  house,  to  assist  in  bringing  from  thence  an  Ameri 
can  flag  that  he  had  kept  secreted,  and  which  he  now  asked 
the  privilege  of  raising  over  the  State  House.  Lieutenant 
Thatcher,  with  privates  Young,  Siegel,  and  Overend,  of  Com 
pany  F,  were  directed  to  accompany  him.  He  conducted  the 
party  to  a  plain-looking  house  in  South  Nashville,  and  rushing 
up  stairs,  the  next  moment  re-appeared  with  a  bed-quilt,  in 
which,  he  said,  "Old  Glory"  had  been  hidden  for  many 
months.  It  was  quickly  ripped  open,  private  Young  threw 
the  flag  over  his  arm,  and  the  squad  hastened  back  to  the 
capitol,  where  with  his  own  hands  the  old  patriot  hoisted  his 
treasure,  the  troops  below  again  cheering  wildly. 

Captain  Driver  was  born  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  and  fol 
lowed  the  sea  for  many  years,  removing  to  Nashville  in  1837. 
For  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  cherished  "  Old  Glory"  with 
religious  veneration,  attaching  to  it  a  peculiar  value  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  originally  presented  him  by  a  number  of  ladies, 
for  the  chivalrous  rescue  of  some  imperiled  voyagers  on  the 


206  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ocean.  "  The  first  time  I  hoisted  it,"  writes  Captain  Driver 
in  a  private  letter,  "  it  was  done  up  (in  accordance  with  an 
ancient  custom  in  Catholic  countries)  in  the  form  -of  a  triangle, 
and  consecrated  to  '  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God 
the  Holy  Ghost/  with  the  modern  addition  of  'the  Union, 
Liberty,  and  Law.7  It  was  a  beautiful  banner  to  look  upon, 
and  I  then  solemnly  swore  it  should  never  be  disgraced  by  the 
hands  of  my  country's  enemies.  I  have  faithfully  kept  my 
vow.  That  flag  was  always  aired  on  Washington's  birthday 
and  the  Fourth  of  July,  on  those  occasions  being  frequently 
the  only  one  displayed  in  that  part  of  Nashville  upon  a  private 
dwelling.  In  the  campaign  of  1860,  with  '  Bells  on  its  luff/ 
it  rang  out  for  ( the  Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  enforce 
ment  of  the  Laws/  During  that  campaign,  and  as  early  as 
the  month  of  October,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the 
medical  students  at  this  place  (and  especially  those  from  Mis 
sissippi  and  Sauth  Carolina)  to  shoot  their  pistols  through  the 
flag  as  it  hung  over  my  door,  at  the  same  time  remarking, 
'  D — n  that  thing ;  we  will  tread  it  in  the  dust.'  I  used  to 
answer,  '  Try  it,  if  you  dare ! '  but  they  never  attempted  to 
remove  it.  The  first  Union  speech  made  in  Tennessee,  after 
the  question  of  secession  had  been  forced  on  our  attention,  was 
on  the  evening  of  January  1, 1861,  in  the  Cumberland  Church, 
South  Nashville.  At  that  meeting  'Old  Glory'  was  greeted 
with  cheer  upon  cheer.  Then  our  struggle  began  in  earnest. 
Gloriously  the  working-men,,  the  masses,  toiled  against  slave 
holders  and  the  aristocracy  of  all  grades,  and  in  February  we 
carried  the  State  by  about  70,000  majority  for  the  Union. 
The  hearts  of  many  leaped  for  joy  at  this  result,  but  I  saw 
that  the  end  was  not  yet.  The  announcement  of  Mr.  Lincoln's 
call  for  75,000  men  burst  like  a  thunderbolt  upon  us,  and 
our  city — then  purposely  filled  with  gamblers,  blacklegs,  and 


FROM   CAMP  WICKLIFFE   TO  NASHVILLE.  207 

Breckinridge  politicians — was  shaken  as  with  a  hurricane. 
Rebel  flags  popped  out  here  and  there  from  the  gambling 
hells  on  Cedar  Street,  and  on  one  or  two  of  the  printing  of 
fices,  that  of  the  Gazette,  in  particular.  That  day's  sun  was 
the  last  that  shone  on  '  Old  Glory/  until  the  advent  of  Nel 
son's  division  in  Nashville.  The  flag  was  demanded  several 
times,  but  I  refused  to  give  it  up,  and,  determined  not  to  be 
outwitted  by  any  set  of  rebels  that  lived,  got  the  Misses  Bailey 
(still  residing  in  Nashville)  to  make  it  up  into  a  comfortable, 
leaving  a  lock  of  cotton  sticking  out  here  and  there,  through 
some  rent  in  the  cover.  We  had  been  ordered  to  'leave  the 
State  within  forty  days,  or  be  dealt  with  as  prisoners  of  war.' 
I  had  not  a  dollar  to  my  name — (starvation  rather  than  trea 
son) — and  in  this  extremity  I  called  on  Hon.  John  Trimble, 
who  kindly  loaned  me  thirty  dollars ;  it  being  my  fixed  pur 
pose  to  reach  the  North  at  once,  and  embark  on  a  gunboat, 
thence  once  more  to  shake  my  old  flag  out  in  .the  face  of  my 
country's  enemies.  I  strapped  the  flag  to  my  trunk,  filled  the 
false  bottom  of  the  latter  with  papers  and  memorandums, 
which  I  thought  might  prove  valuable  to  the  government,  and 
applied  to  the  ( Committee  on  Passes'  for  a  permit  to  visit 
Russellville,  Kentucky,  to  see  a  little  child,  Ruth,  who  was 
there  unwell.  They  refused  the  pass,  delaring  that  they  could 
not  trust  me ;  I  was  '  a  spy  and  a  dangerous  citizen.'  I  gave 
the  gentlemen  my  opinion  of  them  in  strong  and  bitter  lan 
guage,  more  than  half-expecting  to  be  arrested  at  once;  but  I 
was  well  armed,  and  had  made  up  my  mind  to  die  like  a  wolf 
at  bay,  if  attacked.  However,  I  was  permitted  to  return 
home  unmolested.  Since  then  I  have  had  full  satisfaction 
upon  the  rebels  and  their  cause,  dealing  blows  where  they 
were  neither  feared  nor  expected.  After  the  fall  of  Fort  Don- 
elson,  a  Mrs.  Ford  told  some  Texas  Rangers  that  the  flag  was 


208  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

still  in  my  house.  They  swore  they  would  have  it  or  burn 
me  out,  but,  by  close  watching  and  the  aid  of  some  friends, 
they  were  fooled  and  foiled;  and,  at  last,  I  carried  out  my 
oft-repeated  threat  of  hoisting  '  Old  Glory '  over  this  fallen, 
rebellious  city.  That  was,  indeed,  a  glorious  hour,  never  to  be 
blotted  from  my  memory,  save  by  the  hand  of  Death.  Its 
recollection  cheers  me  even  now." 

The  flag  with  whose  history  so  many  interesting  associations 
were  connected,  was  presented  to  the  Sixth  Ohio,  by  which  it 
was  regarded  as  a  most  precious  souvenir.  It  passed  safely 
through  all  the  campaigns  of  the  regiment,  until  October,  1863, 
when  Fred.  Schnell's  mules  discovered  it  one  night,  where  it 
was  stowed  away  in  the  head-quarters'  wagon,  and  before 
morning  had  eaten  "  Old  Glory  "  up,  leaving  only  a  few  shreds 
to  tell  the  sacrilegious  tale.  The  whole  regiment,  and  espe 
cially  Colonel  Anderson,  felt  that  the  loss  was  irreparable. 


CAMP   ANDREW   JACKSOX.  209 


CHAPTER   XVI. 
CAMP    ANDREW   JACKSON. 

(FEBRUARY  25-MARCH  16,  1862.) 

IN  the  last  chapter  we  left  the  Sixth  Ohio  at  the  State 
House,  where  it  remained  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  the 
men  roaming  almost  at  pleasure  through  the  building,  and 
gathering  many  interesting  relics  to  send  home ;  lounging  in 
the  sunshine,  in  positions  sheltered  from  the  wind;  heating 
their  cups  of  coffee  on  the  embers  that  were  still  smouldering 
almost  close  to  the  capitol  steps,  where  an  old  tool-house,  full 
of  damaged  arms,  had  that  morning  been  fired  by  the  Texan 
Rangers;  or  talking  with  the  citizens  whom  curiosity  or  loy 
alty  had  drawn  to  the  spot.  From  their  visitors  the  troops 
obtained  graphic  accounts  of  the  events  which  had  transpired 
in  Nashville  during  the  preceding  ten  days.  The  panic  that 
followed  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson ;  the  hegira  of  the  State 
officials ;  the  flight  and  ludicrous  terror  of  fashionable  secessia, 
male  and  female;  the  thousand  rumors  of  the  coming  of  the 
"Yankees,"  while,  as  yet,  not  a  blue-coat  was  nearer  than 
Bowling  Green  and  Clarksville ;  the  pillage  of  the  rebel  com*- 
missariat  by  the  mob;  the  destruction  of  the  railroad  and 
suspension  bridges  over  the  Cumberland ;  the  wholesale  con 
flagration  of  steamboats  at  the  wharf;  the  passage  of  Johnr 

ston's  Bowling  Green  forces  through  the  city,  coincident  with 
14 


210  THE   STOEY   OF   A   KEGIMENT. 

the  arrival  of  Pillow  and  Floyd,  with  such  remnants  of  their 
commands  as  had  escaped  Grant's  cul  de  sac  at  D^nelson ;  the 
excesses  of  the  Texan  Rangers ;  the  exertions  of  the  rebel 
rear-guard  in  removing  what  it  could  of  the  immense  quanti 
ties  of  stores  that  had  been  accumulated  at  Nashville — these, 
and  other  incidents  of  the  evacuation,  which  now  have  a  per 
manent  place  in  history,  were  described  over  and  over  again. 
Yet  the  Union  troops  in  Nashville  heard  few  words  of  gen 
uine  welcome  that  day,  and  all  felt  that  they  were  in  the 
midst  of  enemies. 

Meanwhile,  the  remainder  of  Nelson's  division  was  disem 
barking,  and  Generals  Buell  and  Mitchel  had  made  their 
appearance.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was  finally  ordered  to  move 
about  two  miles  out,  on  the  Murfreesboro'  turnpike,  where  the 
division  was  to  establish  its  camp.  It  arrived  there  just  at 
dark,  stacked  arms,  and  was  preparing  for  the  night's  bivouac, 
when  the  near  and  sudden  crash  of  musketry,  followed  by  a 
deafening  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs,  caused  every  man  to  rush 
for  his  rifle.  Scarcely  had  the  regiment  formed,  amid  some 
confusion  that  was  inevitable  in  the  darkness,  before  a  body 
of  horsemen  swept  by,  which  was  recognized  at  once  as  the 
German  cavalry  company  that  had  been  sent  forward  to  picket 
the  turnpike.  Captain  Klein,  their  commander,  was  in  hot  pur 
suit,  shouting  the  order  to  "  halt/'  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  first  in 
English,  and  then  in  German,  but  without  effect,  unless  to 
quicken  their  speed,  if  such  a  thing  were  possible.  A  party  of 
rebel  cavalry  had  fired  into  them  from  the  ambush  of  some 
cedars  in  front  of  a  farm-house,  situated  about  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  in  advance  of  the  position  occupied  by  the  Sixth  Ohio. 
Entirely  ignorant  as  to  what  force  of  the  enemy  might  be  near, 
as  well  as  of  the  surrounding  locality,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Anderson  immediately  advanced  a  line  of  skirmishers,  and 


THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT.  211 

made  other  dispositions  to  resist  an  attack;  but  there* was  no 
further  disturbance.  The  regiment  slept  on  its  arms,  and  next 
day  was  highly  complimented  by  General  Nelson  for  the  stead 
fastness  it  had  shown. 

During  its  stay  of  nearly  three  weeks  at  Camp  Andrew 
Jackson — the  name  that  General  Nelson  gave  to  his  encamp 
ment — the  Fourth  Division  received  important  accessions, 
which,  with  other  changes,  made  its  organization  as  follows : 

Tenth  Brigade,  Colonel  Ammen,  composed  of  the  Sixth  and 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana. 

Nineteenth  Brigade,  Colonel  Hazen,  embracing  the  Forty- 
first  Ohio,  Sixth  Kentucky,  and  Ninth  Indiana. 

Twenty-second  Brigade,  comprising  the  First,  Second,  and 
Twentieth  Kentucky,  under  command  of  Colonel  Saunders  D. 
Bruce,  of  the  regiment  last  named. 

Second  Indiana  Cavalry,  then  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Edwin  L.  McCook. 

Battery  D,  First  Regiment  Ohio  Artillery,  Captain  A.  T. 
Konkle,  and  two  Indiana  batteries,  under  command  of  Cap 
tains  Coxe  and  Harris. 

Of  the  newly-joined  regiments,  the  Ninth  Indiana  had  come 
directly  from  West  Virginia  and  was  the  successor,  in-  the 
three  years'  organization,  of  Milroy's  bold  skirmishers  at 
Laurel  Hill ;  while  the  First  and  Second  Kentucky,  schooled 
to  campaigning  by  a  five  months'  experience  in  the  Kanawha 
Valley,  and  recent  graduates  from  General  Thomas  J.  Wood's 
division,  contained  hundreds  of  Cincinnatians,  who  could 
share  with  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  many  a  reminiscence  of  Sumter 
times,  and  had  intimate  friends  among  its  members. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  did  not  find  a  home  in  the  Tenth  Brigade 
without  undergoing  certain  vicissitudes,  traceable  to  the  anom 
alous  position  in  which  it  had  been  placed  by  General  Nelson's 


212  CAMP   ANDKEW   JACKSON. 

retaining  it,  contrary  to  its  original  disposition  by  the  Depart 
ment  commander.  On  the  21st  of  February,  it  was  assigned 
to  the  Nineteenth  Brigade;  on  the  7th  of  March  to  the 
Tenth  Brigade;  on  the  10th,  by  order  of  General  Buell, 
again  to  the  Twenty -second  Brigade;  and  on  the  16th,  back 
to  the  Tenth  Brigade,  which,  by  the  detail  of  the  Fifty-first 
Ohio  for  provost  duty  at  Nashville,  had  been  left  with  but 
two  regiments.  Although  not  at  first  intended  as  such,  the 
last  transfer  proved  to  be  permanent.  The  brigade  to  which 
the  Sixth  Ohio  had  thus  been  attached,  continued  essentially 
the  same  through  successive  campaigns,  down  to  the  reorgani 
zation  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  in  October,  1863 — a 
period  of  nineteen  eventful  months,  big  with  the  fate  of  armies 
and  the  destiny  of  the  nation.  The  three  regiments  now  as 
sociated  in  it,  who  were  so  soon  to  receive  a  common  baptism 
in  Shiloh's  flood  of  fire,  became  warmly  attached  to  each  other, 
and  until  their  last  surviving  members  shall  bivouac  on  the 
banks  of  Time  no  longer,  the  recollection  of  those  by-gone 
days  will  remain  a  bond  of  friendship,  strong  as  a  threefold 
cord  that  can  not  be  broken. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  was  composed  of  one  company 
from  each  of  the  following  counties  in  the  State  whose  name 
it  bore,  viz.:  Huron,  Muskingum,  Erie,  Franklin,  Adams, 
Montgomery,  Trumbull,  Cuyahoga,  Highland,  and  Coshocton.* 
These  companies  were  all  raised  under  President  Lincoln's 
first  call  for  troops;  but  being  in  excess,  not  only  of  Ohio's 
assigned  quota  of  thirteen  regiments,  but  also  of  the  ten  thou 
sand  additional  volunteers  which  the  Legislature  decided  should 

be  retained  in  the  service  of  the  State,  to  defend  it  against 

/ 
*  This  statement  differs  somewhat  from  the  sketch  of  the  Twenty-fourth 

Regiment  given  in  "  Ohio  in  the  War,"  but  it  is  based  on  the  authority 
of  the  official  records  on  file  at  the  Adjutant-General's  Office,  at  Columbus. 


CAMP   ANDREW   JACKSON.  213 

possible  invasion,  they  remained  for  some  weeks  unassigned, 
for  want  of  authority  from  Washington  to  receive  them.  They 
were  kept,  however,  as  part  of  a  reserve  force  of  four  thousand 
men  at  Camp  Chase,  under  command  of  their  respective  cap 
tains,  drilling  and  preparing  to  meet  the  next  call,*  and,  having 
been  at  length  organized  into  a  regiment,  left  Columbus  for 
Western  Virginia,  July  26,  1861.f  On  the  14th  of  August, 
the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  reached  Cheat  Mountain  Summit, 
where  it  remained  for  three  months,  in  that  time  performing 
some  arduous  service  and  undergoing  great  exposure,  but  with 
out  suffering  any  material  reduction  of  its  numerical  strength. 
It  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  fighting  on  the  12th  of  Septem 
ber,  when  the  enemy  was  repulsed,  although  he  was  in  vastly 
superior  numbers  and  had  entirely  surrounded  the  Summit, 
and  it  participated  also  in  the  engagement  at  Greenbrier,  Oc 
tober  3d.  Its  transfer  to  Kentucky  and  sojourn  at  Camp  Wick- 
liffe  have  already  been  referred  to  in  their  appropriate  connec 
tions.  Its  field  officers,  while  at  Camp  Andrew  Jackson,  were 
as  follows :  Colonel,  Jacob  Ammen ;  Lieutenant- Colonel,  Fred 
erick  C.  Jones ;  Major,  Albert  S.  Hall. 

The  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  was  the  junior  regiment  of  the 
brigade.  It  was  recruited  in  the  fifth  congressional  district 
of  its  native  State,  rendezvousing  at  Richmond,  where  it  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years,  on  the 
16th  of  September,  1861.  It  left  the  State  with  an  aggregate 
strength  of  one  thousand  and  forty-seven,  and,  reporting  at 
Louisville  on  the  23d  of  October,  a  few  days  later  was  ordered 
to  New  Haven,  where  it  remained,  as  we  have  seen,  until  in 
corporated  with  the  Tenth  Brigade,  in  the  division  of  General 

*  Report  of  Adjutant-General  Buckingham  for  1861. 
•j-The  date  (June  25,  1861)  given  in  several  reports  of  the  Adjutant- 
General  of  Ohio  is  erroneous. 


214  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Nelson.  Its  field  officers,  at  the  period  under  consideration, 
were  as  follows :  Colonel,  William  Grose ;  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Oliver  H.  P.  Carey;  Major,  Thomas  W.  Bennett.* 

The  brigade  commander,  Colonel  Jacob  Amrnen,  was  born 
of  Swiss  descent,  in  Botetourt  County,  Virginia,  January  7, 
1808,  about  ten  years  after  which  date  his  parents  removed  to 
Brown  County,  Ohio.  Entering  the  United  States  military 
academy  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  graduated  in  1831,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  First  Regiment  United  States  Artillery, 
with  the  customary  rank  of  Brevet  Second  Lieutenant.  After 
serving  about  three  years  with  his  regiment,  and  three  more 
as  assistant  instructor  at  West  Point,  he  resigned  his  commis 
sion  of  First  Lieutenant  of  Artillery,  and  returned  to  civil 
life,  in  which  he  remained  till  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion, 
actively  engaged  in  civil  engineering,  or  as  professor  of  math 
ematics  and  experimental  and  natural  philosophy  in  various 
educational  institutions.  On  the  17th  of  April,  1861,  then 
holding  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools  of 
Ripley,  Brown  County,  Ohio,  he  volunteered  in  the  com 
pany  of  "  Ripley  Guards,"  was  next  day  elected  captain,  and 
on  the  24th  of  April  reported  his  company  at  Camp  Jackson, 
Columbus.  May  2,  he  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Twelfth  Ohio  (three-months'  term),  with  which  he  served 
until  the  22d  of  June,  when  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio.  As  soon  as  his  regiment  could  be  made 
ready  for  the  field,  he  led  it  to  Western  Virginia,  remaining 
in  personal  command  of  it  throughout  its  service  there,  and 
afterward,  until  the  30th  of  November,  when,  at  Louisville,  he 

*  This  outline  of  the  organization  and  early  services  of  the  Thirty-sixth 
Indiana  is  extracted  from  the  second  volume  of  "  Indiana's  Roll  of  Honor," 
which  justly  characterizes  it  as  one  of  the  best  regiments  of  Indiana  vol 
unteers. 


CAMP   ANDREW   JACKSON.  215 

was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Tenth  Brigade.  General 
Nelson,  conscious  of  his  own  deficiencies  as  a  master  of  the  art 
of  war  as  applied  on  land,  was  quick  to  perceive  and  appreciate 
the  thoroughness  which  pervaded  the  character  of  his  subordi 
nate,  and  especially  his  attainments  as  a  trained  soldier;  and 
what  General  Thomas,  the  "  Nestor  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland,"  afterward  became  to  General  Rosecrans — a  confidant 
and  counselor  in  every  important  movement — Colonel  Ammen 
was  to  General  Nelson.* 

The  brigade  staff  consisted  of  three  officers,  as  follows  :  Lieu 
tenant  Robert  F.  Wheeler,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  acting  as 
sistant  adjutant-general  and  aid-de-camp;  Lieutenant  Phil. 
F.  Wiggins,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  quartermaster;  and  Dr.  J. 
Taylor  Bradford,  surgeon. 

Few  events  of  noteworthy  importance  befell  the  Fourth  Di 
vision  while  at  Camp  Andrew  Jackson.  Rebel  cavalry,  and 
particularly  the  command  of  Captain  John  H.  Morgan,  infested 
every  turnpike  leading  out  from  Nashville,  harassing  the  pick 
ets,  attacking  forage  trains,  capturing  stragglers,  and  main 
taining  regular  communication  with  the  secession  element  in 
Nashville,  which  was  bitter,  strong,  and  defiant ;  but  MitchePs 
division,  occupying  the  advanced  encampment  on  the  Mur- 
freesboro'  road,  was  the  principal  sufferer.  On  the  night  of  the 

*To  his  immediate  friends  General  Nelson  was  accustomed  to  speak, 
with  characteristic  frankness,  of  his  obligations  to  General  Ammen' s  supe 
rior  skill  and  experience  in  military  matters.  Rev.  Dr.  Campbell  has  left 
on  record  the  following,  which  is  quite  in  point:  "On  the  writer's  first 
introduction  to  General  Nelson,  he  inquired  of  the  latter  how  General 
Ammen,  a  former  professional  associate,  was  getting  along.  He  replied : 
'General  Ammen,  sir,  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  serv 
ice.  I  owe  to  him  almost  every  thing  I  know  of  military  science.  I 
would  give  the  world,  sir,  if  I  had  his  military  knowledge.'  " 


216  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

28th  of  February,  Captain  Jesse  K.  Wilson,  a  patriotic,  brave, 
and  intelligent  officer  of  the  Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry,  was  shot 
down  in  the  dark,  while  upon  outpost  duty,  and  instantly 
killed.  He  was  well  known  at  home  for  his  public  spirit  and 
personal  worth,  and  having  long  been  a  resident  of  Carthage, 
near  Cincinnati,  had  many  friends  in  the  Sixth  Ohio.  On  the 
1st  of  March,  Major  Christopher,  with  four  companies  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  was  dispatched  to  the  vicinity  of  Brentwood  Sta 
tion,  on  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Eailroad,  to  bring  in  a 
locomotive  and  train  of  cars  which  the  rebels  had  there  aban 
doned.  The  men  went  prepared  for  a  fight,  but  accomplished 
their  object  without  molestation.  On  the  8th,  the  guerrilla 
leader,  Captain  Morgan,  led  a  body  of  his  men  around  the 
Union  picket  lines,  and  surprised  a  wagon  train  passing  from 
General  MitchePs  main  camp  to  that  of  the  Fourth  Ohio  Cav 
alry,  which  was  five  miles  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  divis 
ion.  The  rebels  captured  nearly  sixty  men,  cut  the  teams  loose, 
set  fire  to  the  wagons,  and,  compelling  the  teamsters  to  mount 
their  horses,  rode  rapidly  back  toward  Murfreesboro'.  General 
Mitcliel  fortunately  reached  the  scene  a  few  minutes  later,  and 
ordered  Kennett's  cavalry  in  immediate  pursuit,  which  they 
pressed  with  such  vigor  as  to  recapture  the  men  and  horses,  and 
bring  in  several  prisoners  besides.  In  the  rescued  party,  was 
private  Henry  Kahle,  of  Company  B,  Sixth  Ohio,  who  had 
been  captured  with  the  train,  while  on  his  way  to  visit  a  friend 
in  the  Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  the  division  first  beheld  a  military 
execution.  Private  Michael  Connell,  of  Company  E,  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio,  in  accordance  with  the  sentence  of  a  court-mar 
tial,  was  "  shot  to  death  with  musketry,"  in  the  presence  of  five 
thousand  troops  from  Nelson's  and  Crittenden's  divisions,  "  for 
offering  violence  to  his  superior  officer,"  Corporal  Alonzo  Po- 


CAMP  ANDREW   JACKSON.  217 

cock,  of  Company  K,  of  the  same  regiment.  The  man  had 
been  a  good  soldier,  but  one  night,  while  intoxicated,  fired  five 
pistol  shots  at  the  corporal  of  the  guard,  who  was  endeavoring 
to  arrest  him.  None  of  the  shots  took  effect ;  yet  for  this  of 
fense,  committed  nearly  two  months  before,  he  suffered  the 
extreme  penalty  of  military  law.  He  met  his  fate  with  un 
shaken  firmness.  The  spectacle  was  a  solemn  one,  and  to 
none  did  it  bring  more  sadness  than  to  Colonel  Ammen  and 
General  Nelson.  The  latter  delayed  the  execution  till  the  last 
moment  allowed  by  the  terms  of  the  sentence,  in  hope  that 
a  reprieve  might  yet  be  granted  by  the  department  com 
mander.  He  even  dispatched  an  aid-de-camp  toward  Nash 
ville  to  look  for  the  expected  messenger,  but  none  came,  and 
the  law  had  its  course. 

On  the  12th,  the  Fourth  Division  was  ordered  out  upon 
"  a  reconnoissance,"  in  the  lightest  possible  marching  order,  as 
if  for  a  rapid  movement  against  some  body  of  the  enemy. 
The  expedition  proved  to  be  nothing  of  the  kind,  however  ; 
it  was  simply  a  visit  to  the  Hermitage,  once  the  home  and  still 
the  burial-place  of  Andrew  Jackson,  of  whose  birth  this  day 
was  the  ninety-fifth  anniversary.  The  Hermitage  is  situated 
near  the  Lebanon  turnpike,  twelve  miles  from  Nashville,  but 
is  remarkable  for  nothing,  save  the  associations  which  cling  to 
its  time-browned  walls.  General  Nelson,  who  held  the  char 
acter  of  Jackson  in  great  reverence,  was  in  his  best  humor 
upon  this  excursion,  always  excepting  such  occasions  as  prom 
ised  well  for  a  fight.  The  day  was  a  beautiful  one  of  early 
spring,  every  thing  was  admirably  managed,  and  the  men 
reached  camp  at  twilight,  well  pleased  with  the  trip,  though 
weary,  for  they  had  marched  not  less  than  twenty-three  miles. 

The  health  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  continued  most  excellent. 
"While  the  regiment  was  at  Camp  Andrew  Jackson,  a  letter 


218  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

was  received  from  Mr.  Charles  R.  Fosdick,  of  the  Cincinnati 
Branch  of  the.  United  States  Sanitary  Commission,  offering 
the  aid  of  that  organization  in  the  care  of  the  sick.  In  his 
reply,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  mentioned  the  fact  that 
the  regimental  hospital  contained  only  four  patients.  One  of 
these,  William  Taaffe,  of  Company  C,  died  on  the  15th  of 
March,  from  typhoid  fever,  being  the  first  death  in  the  regi 
ment  from  disease  since  the  preceding  October.  At  the  break 
ing  up  of  Camp  Wickliffe,  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  sent  a  total  of 
twenty-three  men  to  convalescent  barracks,  at  Nelson's  Fur 
nace,  and  when  the  army  moved  from  Nashville  toward  West 
Tennessee,  Dr.  Stephens  found  but  eight  men  in  the  whole  reg 
iment  unable  to  march. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  Quartermaster  Shoemaker  was 
thrown  from  his  horse,  at  which  time  he  received  a  painful 
wound  in  the  instep  of  the  right  foot,  from  the  accidental  dis 
charge  of  his  pistol.  He  obtained  a  leave  of  absence,  and  was 
unable  to  rejoin  the  command  for  more  than  two  months.  Lieu 
tenant  Peck  discharged  the  duties  of  the  quartermaster's  de 
partment  during  five  weeks  of  this  interval,  or  until  the  3d  of 
April,  at  which  date,  being  detailed  as  acting  commissary  of 
subsistence  for  the  division,  he  was  replaced  by  Lieutenant  Mor 
gan.  Captain  Russell  was  detailed  to  take  command  of  the 
transport  Autocrat,  immediately  upon  the  arrival  of  the  division 
at  Nashville,  and  was  not  relieved  until  the  army  was  on  the  eve 
of  setting  out  for  Savanna.  Dr.  Ames  had  been  left  at  Camp 
Wickliffe,  in  charge  of  the  sick  of  the  Fourth  Division,  among 
whom  were  Captains  Tatem  and  Tinker  and  Lieutenant  Boy- 
Ian.  The  latter  resigned  on  the  15th  of  February.  The  res 
ignation  of  Lieutenant  Parker  was  accepted  about  the  same 
time,  but  he  remained  on  duty  with  the  regiment  until  the 


CAMP   ANDREW   JACKSON.  219 

llth  of  March.  He  had  been  out  of  the  army  but  a  short 
time  when  he  received  the  appointment  of  Master's  Mate,  in 
the  naval  service,  and  soon  afterward  joined  the  gunboat  Es 
sex,  one  of  the  first  and  most  famous  iron-clads  that  cruised 
the  Western  waters.  By  successive  promotions,  he  rose  to  the 
command  of  that  vessel,  with  the  rank  of  Volunteer  Lieuten 
ant  Commanding,  and  for  several  months  prior  to 'his  muster- 
out,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  had  charge  of  the  district  on  the 
Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  Memphis.  When  the  regiment 
started  from  Nashville,  on  the  17th  of  March,  Captain  Clarke 
and  Lieutenant  Ehrman  were  left  in  that  city  upon  duty  at 
the  convalescent  barracks.  The  latter  was  soon  afterward 
appointed  Commissary  of  Subsistence  of  Volunteers,  and  or 
dered  to  Evansville,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  until  after 
the  war,  and  then  went  into  business  there.  Captain  Brutton 
was  in  Cincinnati,  but  rejoined  the  regiment  on  the  25th  of 
March,  after  a  long  and  severe  illness.  Captain  Bense  and 
Lieutenants  Oilman  and  Schieifer  were  still  in  durance  vile 
in  a  rebel  prison.  Lieutenants  Royse  and  Morris  were  absent 
on  recruiting  service,  and  Lieutenants  Anderson,  Southgate, 
and  Montagnier  on  staff  duty,  the  latter  being  with  General 
Hascall,  in  Wood's  division.  Lieutenant  Sheridan  was  per 
manently  detached  on  signal  duty. 

Two  field,  two  staff,  and  fifteen  line  officers  thus  remained 
on  duty  with  the  regiment,  when  it  left  Nashville  for  Savanna 
(including  Captain  Brutton,  who  joined  it  between  Nashville 
and  Columbia),  as  follows:  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  and 
Major  Christopher;  Adjutant  Heron  and  Surgeon  Stephens; 
Captains  Westcott,  Andrews,  Wilmington,  Erwin,  Brutton, 
and  Russell;  First  Lieutenants  Me  Alp  in,  Russell,  Donovan, 
Thatcher,  Getty,  Morgan,  and  Peck ;  and  Second  Lieutenants 
West  and  Gettier.  When  the  regiment  moved  to  the  sound  of 


220  THE  STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

the  guns  at  Shiloh,  two  other  officers  were  with  it,  namely,  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  Harry  Gee,  promoted  from  sergeant-major,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  and  assigned  to  Company  D;  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Harry  C.  Choate,  promoted  from  corporal  in  Com 
pany  I,  and  on  the  5th  of  April  assigned  to  Company  G. 
First  Lieutenant  Albert  G.  Williams,  of  Company  F,  was  ap 
pointed  sergeant-major,  vice  Gee. 

In  this  connection  we  may  note  an  appointment,  before  omit 
ted — that  of  private  Charles  E.  Lewis,  of  Company  K,  to 
hospital  steward,  which  was  made  in  December,  1861. 


THE   MARCH   TO   SAVANNA.  221 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE    MARCH    TO   SAVANNA. 

(MARCH  17-APRIL  5,  1862.) 

1/1  OR  a  week  after  the  arrival  of  Nelson's  division — the 
-•-  advance  of  BuelPs  army — troops  continued  to  pour  into 
Nashville ;  in  fact,  the  stream  of  reinforcements  had  not  en 
tirely  ceased  by  the  middle  of  March.  General  Buell  was  not 
long  in  discovering  that  his  antagonist,  Johnston — after  a 
short  halt  at  Murfreesboro',  where  he  had  combined  the  fugi 
tives  from  Fort  Donelson,  and  the  earlier  fugitives  from  Mill 
Spring,  with  Hardee's  corps  from  Bowling  Green — had  with 
drawn  from  his  front  and  was  falling  back  to  the  line  of  the 
Tennessee  River.  The  Army  of  the  Ohio,  which  was  in  splen 
did  condition,  as  well  as  strong  in  numbers,  could  be  relied 
upon  for  most  soldierly  work  in  marching  after  the  enemy. 
But  obvious  and  weighty  considerations  pointed  to  another 
route  as  the  true  one  by  which  to  make  the  next  grand  ad 
vance  into  the  Southern  Confederacy.  That  route  was  the 
Tennessee  River,  which  Commodore  Footers  gunboats  had  al 
ready  ascended  as  far  as  Florence,  Alabama — less  than  the 
length  of  one  State  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico — which  afforded 
every  facility  for  seizing  upon  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad,  and  thus  severing  the  great  artery  whose  pulsations 
brought  the  Mississippi  Valley  into  direct  connection  with 


222  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Richmond,  the  life-center  of  the  rebellion,  and  by  which  an  army 
could  be  conveyed  almost  to  the  back  door  of  Memphis,  with 
the  certainty  of  securing  control  of  the  Mississippi  for,  hun 
dreds  of  miles  from  Cairo  southward.  The  Tennessee,  how 
ever,  for  an  indefinite  distance  from  its  mouth,  lay  within  the 
neighboring  Department  of  the  Missouri,  commanded  by  Ma 
jor-General  Halleck,  whose  head-quarters  were  at  St.  Louis. 
To  that  officer  General  Buell  promptly  telegraphed  his  views, 
and  tendered  his  army  for  a  cooperative  movement  in  the  di 
rection  proposed.* 

General  Halleck,  however,  had  already  projected  an  expedi 
tion  up  the  Tennessee,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  rail 
road  connections  at  Corinth,  Jackson,  and  Humboldt,  but,  more 
especially,  the  bridge  by  which  the  Memphis  and  Charleston 
Railroad  crosses  Big  Bear  Creek,  just  within  the  western 
boundary  of  Alabama.  These  objects,  or  such  of  them  as 
might  be  practicable,  having  been  accomplished,  the  expedition 
was  directed  to  return  to  Danville — twenty  odd  miles  above 
Fort  Henry — and  move  on  Paris,  a  little  railroad  town,  one 
day's  march  westward,  possessing,  in  reality,  no  strategic  im 
portance  whatever.  Following  these  instructions,  General 
Grant,  then  commanding  a  district  of  Halleck's  department, 

*As  far  as  possible,  the  writer  has  purposely  avoided  encumbering  this 
chapter  with  an  elaborate  array  of  foot-notes,  citing  authorities,  etc.,  but  de 
sires  here  to  say  that  every  statement  which  it  contains  respecting  the  pre 
liminary  movements  of  the  Armies  of  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee,  in  the  Shiloh 
campaign,  (with  perhaps  two  or  three  unimportant  exceptions,)  may  be  veri 
fied,  by  all  who  choose  to  take  the  pains,  by  reference  either  to  General 
Adam  Badeau's  Life  of  Grant,  or  to  the  official  dispatches  quoted  by 
General  Buell,  in  his  printed  letters  of  January  19,  1865,  and  April  3, 
1866.  The  reader  will  find  the  text  of  all  the  extracts  from  Grant's  dis 
patches  which  are  given  verbatim^  in  Badeau's  work. 


THE   MARCH   TO   SAVANNA.  223 

proceeded  to  organize  an  expeditionary  column  with  his  accus 
tomed  energy,  and  had  nearly  completed  his  preparations, 
when,  on  the  5th  of  March,  he  was  ordered  to  transfer  the 
command  of  the  troops  to  General  Charles  F.  Smith,  and  to 
remain  in  person  at  Fort  Henry.  Owing  to  the  flooded  con 
dition  of  the  country  and  other  minor  causes,  General  Smith 
found  it  impossible  at  that  time  to  accomplish  the  objects  for 
which  the  movement  had  been  set  on  foot.  Meantime,  the 
consultations  of  Halleck  and  Buell  had  resulted  in  a  kind  of 
general  understanding  that  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  should  be 
united  with  that  of  the  Tennessee,  for  an  advance  upon  the 
enemy's  new  line  of  defense,  and  the  place  of  rendezvous 
agreed  upon  for  the  junction  of  the  two  commands  was  Sa 
vanna,  a  village  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  two 
hundred  and  ten  miles  above  its  mouth.  Corinth  is  about  thirty 
miles  south-west  of  Savanna — as  a  bird  would  fly — situated  at 
the  crossing  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston,  and  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  Railroads.  It  was  a  railroad  center,  second  in  strategic  im 
portance  to  none  within  the  limits  of  the  Confederacy — a  vital 
point  in  the  new  defensive  line  which  the  enemy  had  adopted  at 
the  West.  Anxious  to  seize  it  as  soon  as  possible,  General 
Smith  selected,  as  the  point  from  which  it  could  most  readily 
be  approached,  its  principal  freighting  place  upon  the  river, 
Pittsburg  Landing,  which  is  ten  miles  above  Savanna,  by  the 
windings  of  the  Tennessee,  and  upon  the  other  side  of  the 
river.  There  a  portion  of  the  troops  were  disembarked,  and 
there  General  Grant  found  them,  when,  having  been  relieved 
from  his  unmerited  disgrace,  he  reached  Savanna,  on  the  17th 
of  March,  and  re-assumed  active  command. 

Four  days  earlier,  the  Departments  of  Kansas  and  the  Ohio 
had  been  added  to  the  jurisdiction  of  General  Halleck,  whose 
immense  department — now  designated  that  of  the  Mississippi-— 


224  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

was  made  to  embrace  the  whole  theater  of  operations  "  west  of 
a  north  and  south  line  drawn  indefinitely  through  Knoxville, 
Tennessee."  On  the  16th  of  March,  Halleck,  who  had  thus 
become  generalissimo  of  the  Western  armies,  learned  that 
Buell  had  put  his  army  in  motion,  and  hastened  to  notify 
Grant :  "  General  Buell  is  marching  in  this  direction."  This 
was  the  day  preceding  Grant's  arrival  at  Savanna,  by  which 
time  he  was  fully  advised  of  the  enlarged  plan  of  operations, 
which  had  matured  his  expeditionary  movement  into  the  ini 
tiative  of  a  grand  offensive  campaign.  The  enemy  was  known  to 
be  concentrating  at  Corinth,  as  from  the  first  it  had  been  cer 
tain  he  would  do,  and  Halleck  was  continually  cautioning  his 
subordinate  against  making  any  demonstration  which  could  lead 
to  a  general  engagement,  until  heavily  reenforced.  Nevertheless, 
General  Grant  decided  to  establish  his  entire  army  in  the  much 
exposed  encampment  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  In  taking  this  step, 
he  was  probably  carrying  out  the  tacit  understanding  of  most, 
or  perhaps  all,  of  his  division  commanders,  but  it  was  a  most 
unmilitary  proceeding ;  and  the  reckless  self-confidence  with 
which  General  Grant  entered  upon  a  campaign  which  he  knew 
must  prove  a  defensive  one  for  at  least  a  fortnight  longer,  is  de 
monstrated  by  the  fact  that  he  never  visited  Pittsburg  Landing 
until  after  he  had  concentrated  his  whole  army  there,*  within 
one  day's  march  of  the  rapidly  accumulating  forces  of  the 
enemy  at  Corinth.  He  did  not  even  follow  them  there,  except 

*  "On  the  13th  of  March,  Grant  was  relieved  from  his  disgrace;  and 
on  the  17th,  he  removed  his  head-quarters  [from  Fort  Henry]  to  Savanna, 
and  wrote  to  Sherman  [who  was  at  Pittsburg  Landing]  from  that  place. 

Within  an  hour  after  his  arrival,  Grant  issued  orders  for  the 

concentration  of  the  whole  force, 'sending  Smith's  and  McClernand's  di 
visions,  as  fast  as  boats  could  carry  them,  up  to  Pittsburg." — Badeaus 
Life  of  Grant. 


THE  MARCH   TO  SAVANNA.  225 

to  make  very  transient  visits,  deeming  his  presence  with  the 
troops  of  less  consequence  than  the  slight  advantages  which 
his  remaining  at  Savanna  would  afford  for  the  disposition  of 
reinforcements  and  supplies. 

The  brief  but  momentous  campaign  which  culminated  at 
Shiloh  furnishes  a  most  vulnerable  point  in  the  military 
record  of  both  Grant  and  Sherman.  The  latter,  as  being  un 
questionably  the  ablest  and  best  trained  soldier  on  the  ground, 
(after  the  disablement  of  General  C.  F.  Smith,)  was  virtually 
intrusted  with  a  supervisory  control  of  the  encampment  at 
Pjttsburg  Landing  during  his  chiefs  absence  at  Savanna,  and 
in  his  judgment  and  discretion  General  Grant  had  already  ac 
quired  the  habit  of  reposing  the  highest  confidence.  Together, 
Grant  and  Sherman  must  share  the  responsibility  for  those 
great  errors  that  marked  the  conduct  of  affairs  at  Pittsburg, 
up  to  the  very  dawn  of  Shiloh,  and  which  suffered  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  to  be  brought  to  the  verge  of  destruction ;  and 
no  uncandid  criticism,  no  partial  presentation  of  facts,  no  mat 
ter  by  whomsoever  made,  can  shift  that  grave  responsibility, 
to  the  derogation  of  other  commanders.  The  misstatements 
which  have  been  made  to  that  end,  would  be  more  pardonable 
if  there  were  nothing  upon  which  to  base  the  fame  of  Grant 
and  Sherman,  save  the  ruined  reputation  of  their  contempo 
raries — than  which  nothing  could  be  more  untrue ;  for  the 
blunders  of  the  Shiloh  campaign,  palpable  as  they  were,  have 
been  atoned  for  many  times  over,  by  the  later  services  of  those 
great  but  severely-schooled  soldiers.  The  spirit  of  disparage-- 
ment  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  which  pervades  many  of  the 
current  narratives  of  Shiloh,  is  therefore  as  unnecessary  in 
every  point  of  view  as  it  is  ungenerous  and  unfair. 

General  Adam  Badeau's   "  Military  History  of  Ulysses  S., 
Grant"  undoubtedly  makes  the  best   presentation  which  is- 


226  THE   STOEY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

possible  on  behalf  of  its  illustrious  subject.  This  it  does  in  a 
chapter  containing  few  absolute  untruths,  indeed,  but  abound 
ing  in  passages  in  which  facts  and  dates  have  been  so  collated 
and  arranged  as  to  produce  an  effect  very  nearly  the  equiva 
lent  of  direct  deception.  The  following  extract  illustrates  this 
disingenuous  method  of  writing  official  history  :  "  Grant  him 
self  remained  at  Savanna  to  superintend  the  organization  of 
troops  constantly  arriving  from  Missouri,  and  because,  from 
there,  he  could  communicate  more  readily  with  Buell,  whose 
deliberate  movements  had  not  yet  brought  him  within  sup 
porting  distance  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee."  The  dates 
to  which  these  remarks  have  reference  are  given  as  the  17th 
of  March  and  the  two  succeeding  days.  The  facts  are  that 
Buell,  necessarily  waiting  to  complete  the  concentration  of  his 
army,  did  not  start  his  advance  division  until  the  16th,  and 
on  the  17th,  when  Grant  decided  to  retain  head-quarters  at 
Savanna,  the  latter  had  only  a  few  hours  before  received  his 
first  intimation  that  Buell  was  moving  at  all,  from  Nashville, 
one  hundred  and  twenty-two  miles  away.  What  use  Grant  made 
of  his  facilities  for  communicating  with  General  Buell  by  tele 
graph,  during  three  whole  days  preceding  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
we  shall  see  presently. 

Having  thus  beheld  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  encamped 
in  fancied  security  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  we  shall  be  better 
prepared  to  understand  the  movements  of  that  army  which  har* 
just  been  ordered  to  join  it,  for  an  offensive  campaign  some 
where  in  West  Tennessee,  or  Northern  Mississippi  and  Ala 
bama. 

On  Sunday,  March  16th,  the  Fourth  Division  received  or 
ders  to  prepare  for  a  march,  with  tents,  camp  equipage,  and 
seven  days'  rations,  in  the  direction  of  Franklin.  It  moved  at 


THE   MARCH    TO   SAVANNA.  227 

7  A.  M.,  next  day,  in  the  following  order :  the  Tenth  Brigade 
in  advance,  which  position  it  retained  throughout  the  march  ; 
the  Twenty-second  Brigade  next,  and  the  Nineteenth  Brigade 
in  the  rear.  Returning  from  Camp  Andrew  Jackson  almost 
to  Nashville,  the  troops  struck  across  to  the  Franklin  turnpike, 
and  soon  passed  the  deserted  camping  grounds  of  McCook, 
who,  as  senior  division  commander,  had  claimed  the  advance, 
and  started  early  the  day  before.  That  night,  after  an  easy 
march  of  thirteen  miles,  they  bivouacked  near  the  toll-gate, 
then  kept  by  Mr.  Bellew,  twelve  miles  from  Nashville.  On 
the  18th,  the  Fourth  Division  marched  nineteen  miles,  through 
Franklin,  halting  for  the  night  near  Spring  Hill.  The  com 
mand  was  now  traversing  the  fertile  and  highly-cultivated 
cotton  regions  of  Middle  Tennessee,  and  gangs  of  slaves  were 
seen  at  work  upon  almost  every  plantation,  or  else  clinging  to 
the  fences  by  the  road-side,  whence  they  watched  the  marching 
column  with  wondering  eyes  and  unmistakable  delight,  as  long 
as  it  remained  in  view. 

The  rebel  cavalry,  who  had  been  left  to  watch  the  Army  of 
the  Ohio,  were  not  in  sufficient  force  to  retard  its  progress,  ex 
cept  by  destroying  the  bridges  along  its  line  of  march ;  and 
even  in  this  they  had  thus  far  been  foiled  by  the  rapid  move 
ments  of  the  Union  cavalry,  pushed  well  forward  in  advance 
of  the  main  column.  But  here  General  Nelson  learned  that 
McCook  had  been  compelled  to  halt  by  the  destruction  of  the 
bridges  across  Rutherford  Creek  and  Duck  River,  which  were 
respectively  six  and  ten  miles  ahead.  No  serious  detention 
had  been  caused  at  the  former,  but  the  Duck  River  bridge  it 
would  be  impossible  to  replace  for  several  days,  and,  as  the 
river  was  greatly  swollen  by  late  rains,  fording  was  out  of 
the  question.  On  the  19th,  McCook  moved  up  almost  in 
sight  of  Columbia,  and  immediately  began  the  construction  of 


228  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

another  bridge,  in  which,  however,  he  made  slower  headway 
than  he  first  anticipated ;  for  his  battalion  of  Mechanics  and 
Engineers,  even  with  the  addition  of  a  detail  from  Colonel 
Willich's  Thirty-second  Indiana,  constituted  a  comparatively 
small  and,  as  yet,  but  inexperienced  force  of  workmen,  while 
the  difficulties  of  their  -undertaking  daily  grew  more  and  more 
apparent.  General  Buell  was  still  in  Nashville.  Crittenden 
was  a  few  miles  in  the  rear  of  Nelson,  with  Wood  next,  and 
then  Thomas,  bringing  up  the  rear.  Mitchel's  division, 
which  had  moved  out  through  Murfreesboro'  toward  Shelby- 
ville  and  Huntsville,  now  formed  an  independent  column. 

During  the  19th,  Nelson's  division  lay  quietly  resting  in  its 
camping  place  of  the  night  before.  On  the  20th,  it  moved 
three  miles,  passing  through  Spring  Hill,  and  again  went  into 
camp  as  near  McCook  as  was  consistent  with  the  order  of 
march.  On  the  22d,  it  changed  camp  three  miles  forward,  to 
a  piece  of  ridgeland  near  Carter's  Station,  and,  while  waiting 
there,  completed  the  task  of  repairing  the  ford  at  Rutherford 
Creek.  On  the  26th,  (Colonel  Ammen  having  obtained  per 
mission  to  select  a  location  more  suitable  for  drill  purposes,) 
the  Tenth  Brigade  moved  two  miles  further,  to  grounds  where 
camp  had  previously  been  laid  out  with  great  care,  and  in 
which  it  was  now  pitched  with  beautiful  regularity  and  order. 
The  Sixth  Ohio  had  the  position  nearest  the  road,  and  the 
regiment  took  it  as  a  decided  compliment  when  General  Buell, 
riding  by  late  in  the  day,  inquired  if  it  was  not  an  encamp 
ment  of  regulars.  Next  day,  drilling  began  in  Nelsonian 
earnest ;  for  the  Duck  River  bridge  was  still  unfinished,  and 
likely  to  remain  so  for  nearly  a  week  longer. 

Throughout  the  march  to  the  Tennessee  River,  Buell  was 
in  communication  with  General  Grant  by  means  of  couriers, 
and  with  General  Halleck  by  telegraph ;  but  neither  of  them 


THE    MARCH   TO   SAVANNA.  229 

ever  expressed  the  least  misgiving  as  to  the  safety  of  Grant's 
position  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  urged  greater  celerity  of 
movement,  in  order  to  counterpoise  the  rapid  concentration  of 
the  enemy,  which  was  then  actually  taking  place  on  Grant's 
front.  On  the  18th  of  March,  Buell  telegraphed  Halleck :  "  I 
understand  Grant  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river:  is  it  not  so?" 
Halleck's  reply  did  not  state  otherwise,  leaving  Buell  to  infer 
that  his  understanding  was  correct.  Grant  himself,  in  writing 
to  Buell,  on  the  19th,  gave  no  further  explanation  of  the  state 
of  affairs  than  simply  this  :  "  There  is  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  the  rebels  have  a  large  force  at  Corinth,  and  many  at 
other  points  toward  Decatur ; "  but  this  was  accompanied  by 
no  hint  of  any  kind  that  he  considered  the  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee  in  present  or  even  prospective  danger.  Even  Badeau 
says  that  "  Buell  had  no  knowledge  that  Grant  was  in  any  ex 
traordinary  danger;"  which  was  for  the  best  of  reasons — 
namely,  that  General  Grant  (from  whom,  either  directly  or 
through  Halleck,  Buell  necessarily  derived  all  his  information 
touching  the  points  in  question)  had  no  such  knowledge  up  to 
the  very  hour  that  the  roar  of  Shiloh  broke  upon  his  ear. 
Grant  felt  himself  strong  enough  to  attack  without  waiting  for 
Buell,  and  on  the  23d  of  March,  wrote  to  General  Smith  from 
Savanna :  "  I  am  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  the  enemy  are 
gathering  strength  at  Corinth,  quite  as  rapidly  as  we  are  here, 
and  the  sooner  we  attack,  the  easier  will  be  the  task  of  taking 
the  place.  If  Ruggles  is  in  command,  it  would  assuredly  be  a 
good  time. to  attack."  Confessedly  against  his  will,  he  was  re 
strained,  however,  by  positive  instructions,  from  undertaking 
any  aggressive  movement  until  Buell  should  arrive  to  cooperate 
with  him.  Hence,  he  was  naturally  desirous  that  the  junction 
of  the  two  armies  should  be  brought  about  as  speedily  as  pos 
sible,  but  contented  himself  with  informing  Halleck,  the  com- 


230  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

mon  superior  of  both  himself  and  Buell,  as  follows :  On  the 
26th  of  March,  "  My  scouts  are  just  in  with  a  letter  from  Gen 
eral  Buell.  The  three  divisions  coming  this  way  are  yet  on  the 
east  side  of  Duck  River,  detained  by  bridge  building."  On  the 
27th,  "  I  have  no  news  yet  of  any  portion  of  General  Buell's 
command  being  this  side  of  Columbia."  And  on  the  31st, 
"  Two  soldiers  from  the  head  of  McCook's  command  came  in 
this  evening.  Some  of  this  command  crossed  Duck  River  on 
the  29th,  and  established  guards  eight  miles  out  that  night." 
Grant  was  in  error,  as  we  shall  see,  in  crediting  McCook  with 
the  passage  of  Duck  River  on  the  29th ;  which,  however,  is  a 
point  of  no  consequence,  except  that  his  neglect  to  interrogate 
these  men  sufficiently  to  ascertain  the  real  facts,  betrays  a  lack 
of  interest  in  the  movements  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  that 
could  not  have  existed  had  he  considered  himself  in  need  of 
its  assistance.  Another  reason  was  superadded  shortly,  to 
make  him  anxious  for  BuelFs  appearance,  in  the  necessity  for 
his  presence  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  arising  from  certain  jeal 
ousies  among  his  senior  division  commanders,  as  he  explained  in 
a  letter  to  Halleck,  dated  March  27th,  as  follows :  "  News  hav 
ing  arrived  of  the  promotion  of  General  McClernand  to  the 
rank  of  major-general,  without  the  date  of  promotion  of  either 
him  or  General  Smith  being  known,  makes  it  necessary  for  me 
to  move  my  head-quarters  to  Pittsburg.  I  will  not  go  up,  how 
ever,  until  something  further  is  heard  from  General  BuelPs 
command,  and  until  full  directions  are  given  for  their  transfer 
to  this  place." 

Grant  properly  felt  that  these  considerations,  which  were 
mainly  of  a  personal  character,  did  not  constitute  any  ground 
of  complaint  concerning  the  delays  which  Buell  had  encoun 
tered  in  moving  a  large  army  over  a  single  road,  and  at  an 
unfavorable  season  of  the  year,  through  a  country  where  a 


THE   MARCH   TO   SAVANNA.  231 

column  of  Union  troops  had  never  before  penetrated ;  but  on 
the  31st  of  March  he  did  write  to  McCook,  a  division  com 
mander,  who,  he  erroneously  supposed,  still  had  the  advance 
of  Buell's  army :  "  I  have  been  looking  for  your  column  anx 
iously  for  several  days."  This  is  the  one  solitary  expression 
of  any  thing  even  approaching  solicitude  in  regard  to  the  move 
ments  of  BuelPs  army,  that  Grant's  voluminous  dispatches  of 
this  period  afford ;  and,  surely,  it  is  abundantly  accounted  for 
by  the  circumstances  we  have  detailed,  upon  the  authority  of 
his  official  biographer. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  General  Nelson  (and,  as  there  is 
good  reason  to  believe,  General  Buell  also*)  learned,  for  the 
first  time,  that  Grant's  army  had  been  located  upon  the  west 
bank  of  the  Tennessee,  the  information  being  obtained  from 
the  verbal  statements  of  couriers  who  had  just  arrived  from 
Savanna.  With  a  prescience  and  breadth  of  mental  vision 
which  those  who  knew  him  best  are  accustomed  to  regard  as 
one  of  his  most  remarkable  traits,  Nelson  perceived  the  whole 
situation  in  an  instant.  He  was  then  on  the  banks  of  Duck 
River,  whither  he  had  gone  to  see  what  progress  was  being 
made  with  the  bridge.  "  By  G — d  !  "  he  exclaimed  to  an  of 
ficer  who  was  with  him,  "  we  must  cross  that  river  at  once,  or 
Grant  will  be  whipped ! "  He  rode  directly  to  General  BuelPs 
head-quarters  and  asked  permission  to  ford  Duck  River  with 
the  Fourth  Division.  Some  conversation  ensued,  which  was 
terminated  by  the  promise,  on  General  BuelPs  part,  that  if  Nel- 

*In  General  Buell's  letter  to  the  United  States  Service  Magazine,  dated 
New  York,  January  19th,  1865,  he  says:  "Savanna,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  from  the  enemy,  had  been  designated  for  the  junction,  and  I 
eupposed  that  the  force  I  was  to  join  was  there,  until  within  a  few  days 
of  iny  arrival,  when  I  casually  learned  otherwise ;  and  then  I  was  told  it 
was  secure  in  the  natural  strength  of  the  position." 


232  THE   STOKY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

son  could  get  his  men  safely  over,  with  all  his  artillery  and 
baggage,  he  should  have  the  advance  thenceforward  to  the 
Tennessee.  By  this  time  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon. 

Next  morning  General  Buell  issued  orders  to  his  division 
commanders  for  the  separation  from  the  rest  of  their  troops  of 
•all  who,  upon  examination,  should  be  found  unfit  to  continue 
the  march,  and  prescribing  proper  measures  for  the  care  of 
these  men  when  left  behind.  In  the  Fourth  Division,  the  execu 
tion  of  this  order  and  the  distribution  of  supplies,  etc.,  consumed 
most  of  the  day.  Colonel  Ammen  succeeded  in  making  the 
preliminary  soundings  and  other  arrangements  for  fording,  with 
out  exciting  the  suspicion  of  McCook's  bridge  builders,  and  at 
dress  parade  the  troops  were  edified  by  hearing  read  the  fol 
lowing  : 

HEAD-QUAKTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION-,     ) 
CAMP  NEAR  SPRING  HILL,  TENN.,  28th  March,  1862. 1 
[CIRCULAR.] 

Reveille  will  be  sounded  to-morrow,  at  4  o'clock  A.  M.  At  6 
A.  M.,  the  Tenth  Brigade  will  move  with  one  day's  rations  in 
haversacks,  in  the  following  order :  First,  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 
Regiment;  second,  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment;  third,  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  Regiment.  The  wagons  will  be  carefully  loaded  with 
reference  to  fording  Duck  River — tents  and  other  articles  not  liable 
to  injury  from  water  at  the  bottom,  and  ammunition  at  the  top. 

On  reaching  the  ford,  the  men  will  strip  off  their  pantaloons, 
secure  their  cartridge-boxes  about  their  necks,  and  load  knapsacks 
on  the  wagons ;  bayonets  will  be  fixed,  and  the  pantaloons,  in  a 
neat  roll,  will  be  carried  on  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  A  halt  will 
be  ordered  on  the  other  side  of  the  ford,  to  allow  the  men  to  take 
off  their  drawers,  wring  them  dry,  and  resume  their  clothing  and 
knapsacks. 

Strong  parties  will  be  detailed  to  accompany  the  wagons,  to  assist 
them  to  cross  the  ford.  The  rear-guard  to  each  regiment  will 


THE   MARCH   TO   SAVANNA.  233 

consist  of  one  company  under  charge  of  a  field  officer,  whose  par 
ticular  province  it  will  be  to  assist  the  passage  of  the  train  over 
the  ford.  The  ammunition  boxes  of  the  artillery  will  be  taken  off 
the  limbers  and  passed  across  the  river  on  scows. 

By  command  of 

BKIGADIEK-GENERAL  NELSON. 

J.  MILLS  KEXDRICK,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

Promptly  at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  March  29th,  the 
Tenth  Brigade  was  in  motion.  The  ford  was  very  tortuous, 
being  almost  in  the  shape  of  a  letter  S.  Stripping  to  their 
drawers,  as  ordered,  the  men  crossed  without  serious  difficulty ; 
but  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  breaking  in  ahead  of  the  trains,  the 
further  bank  was  made  so  slippery  by  the  water  dripping  off 
the  horses'  bodies  that  much  hard  labor  was  necessary  to  get 
the  wagons  up  into  the  roadway.  Before  sunset,  however,  the 
whole  division  was  over,  except  a  portion  of  the  artillery ;  and 
the  Tenth  Brigade,  after  a  march  of  three  more  miles  through 
Columbia,  had  gone  into  camp  on  the  plantation  of  General 
Pillow's  father-in-law,  two  miles  south  of  that  place.  Thus, 
Nelson  gained  the  advance,  and  the  rebel  plans  for  crushing 
Grant  were  predestinated  failures  from  that  hour. 

On  Sunday,  March  30th,  Crittenden's  division  followed,  the 
Fourth  Division  moving  forward  about  three  miles  to  make 
room  for  it,  and  the  Tenth  Brigade  encamping  on  Colonel 
William  H.  Polk's  plantation.  General  Nelson  established 
his  head-quarters  at  the  house  of  General  Pillow,  whose  mag 
nificent  estate  and  beautiful  grounds  excited  universal  admira 
tion.  Next  morning  the  march  was  resumed  in  earnest.  From 
Columbia  to  Savanna  the  distance  is  eighty-two  miles;*  the 

*  General  Buell,  in  his  letter,  dated  April  3d,  1866,  says  ninety  miles, 
but  he  evidently  had  in  mind  the  average  distance  of  his  divisions  from 
Savanna,  at  the  time  his  column  began  crossing  Duck  River. 


234  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

country,  except  for  the  first  fifteen  miles,  is  sparsely  settled, 
rough,  and  poor,  and  the  roads  are  no  better  than  such  regions 
commonly  afford  the  traveler,  off  the  thoroughfares  of  traffic. 
Upon  a  single  narrow  and  ill-kept  roadway,  for  lack  of  more 
practicable  routes,  General  Buell  now  pushed  forward  his  divis 
ions  at  intervals  of  six  miles,  in  the  following  order,  namely : 
Nelson,  Crittenden,  McCook,  Wood,  and  Thomas.  The  latter 
did  not  cross  Duck  River  until  the  2d  of  April,  and  on  the 
same  day  General  Buell  himself  left  Columbia. 

Before  taking  up  his  line  of  march  from  Folk's,  General 
Nelson  issued  the  following  succinct  orders :  "  A  strong  pioneer 
party  will  be  detailed  from  the  Tenth  Brigade,  under  a  com 
petent  officer,  to  repair  the  road.  Brigade  commanders  will 
see  that  the  greatest  possible  quantity  of  forage  is  carried,  as 
none  is  to  be  had  beyond  Mount  Pleasant.  The  telegraph 
laborers  will  be  assisted,  at  all  times  when  necessary,  by  an 
the  officers."  On  Monday,  the  31st  of  March,  the  Fourth 
Division  moved  ten  miles  and  halted  early,  having  reached  the 
base  of  a  high  hill  resembling  the  Kentucky  "barrens,"  that 
was  destitute  of  water  for  several  miles.  A  strong  cavalry 
picket  was  pushed  forward  eleven  miles  to  Buffalo  River,  where 
it  arrived  just  in  season  to  save  the  bridge,  and  during  the 
night  was  repeatedly  fired  upon.  About  midnight,  an  infantry 
picket  nearer  camp  shot  a  farmer  named  Cox,  who  was  attempt 
ing  to  steal  past  the  outpost  and  refused  to  halt  when  chal 
lenged.  The  wretched  man  lived  about  three  hours,  and 
almost  his  last  words  were  a  horrible  imprecation  upon  the 
Yankee  invaders.  On  the  1st  of  April,  an  oppressively  warm 
day,  the  division  marched  fourteen  miles,  and  encamped  in  a 
wood  three  miles  beyond  Buffalo  River.  On  the  2d,  there 
were  two  or  three  showers  of  rain ;  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  the 
advance  of  the  division,  marched  sixteen  miles  to  Pointer's 


THE   MAECH   TO   SAVANNA.  235 

(or,  as  it  is  otherwise  named,  Mount  Jasper)  Furnace,  and 
pitched  camp  in  a  stony  bottom  close  under  the  hill  which  fur 
nished  the  iron  ore.  The  pickets  advanced  to  Waynesboro7, 
five  miles  further.  On  the  3d,  the  division  marched  fifteen 
miles,  encamping  on  Hardin  Creek..  At  Waynesboro',  where, 
for  the  first  time  since  entering  Tennessee,  the  troops  were 
welcomed  with  genuine  enthusiasm,  one  of  the  batteries  ob 
tained  a  number  of  recruits.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  heavy 
cannonading  was  heard  toward  the  south-west,  exciting  much 
speculation  as  to  its  import. 

On  the  date  last  given,  General  Buell,  who  had  not  yet 
overtaken  his  foremost  division,  telegraphed  General  Halleck 
that  at  Waynesboro'  the  road  forked  to  strike  the  Tennessee  at 
several  points,  and  suggested  that  it  might  be  well  to  move 
from  that  place  to  Hamburg  Landing  rather  than  to  Savanna 
(which  would  have  brought  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  within  four 
miles  of  Grant's  position  at  Pittsburg  Landing).  A  day  or 
two  later,  General  Halleck  replied :  "  You  are  right  about  con 
centrating  at  AVaynesboro' :  future  movements  must  depend  on 
those  of  the  enemy ; "  adding  that  he  himself  could  not  leave 
Saint  Louis  to  join  the  combined  forces  on  the  Tennessee  until 
the  7th.  Happily  for  all  the  combatants  upon  the  National 
side,  most  fortunately  for  General  Grant's  future  reputation  and 
career,  Nelson  was  almost  in  sight  of  Savanna  when  this  an 
swer  reached  General  Buell,  by  whose  order  the  other  divisions 
were  following  as  rapidly  as  the  horrible  condition  of  the 
roads  would  permit. 

The  3d  of  April  is  also  the  date  on  which  the  rebel  army 
moved  from  Corinth  toward  the  Union  camps  at  Pittsburg 
Landing,  intending  to  attack  on  the  5th,  and  overwhelm  Grant 
before  Buell  could  come  to  his  succor.  Grant  was  in  tele- 


236  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

graphic  communication  with  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  from  the 
noon  of  that  day,  when  his  telegraph  constructors  met  Nelson's 
division  a  few  miles  south  of  Waynesboro'  and  promptly  re 
ported  the  fact  to  Grant,  with  the  additional  information  that 
the  column  would  probably  reach  Savanna  on  Saturday,  the 
5th  instant,  as  it  subsequently  did.  Grant  had  no  message  to 
send  that  day,  but  on  the  4th  he  telegraphed  Nelson  that  the 
troops  need  not  hasten  their  march,  as  transports  would  not 
be  in  readiness,  at  any  rate,  until  the  8th.*  Without  slack 
ening  his  speed  in  the  least  degree,  however,  General  Nelson 
pressed  forward. 

Soon  after  the  Fourth  Division  started  on  the  4th,  rain  be 
gan  falling ;  the  country  was  very  broken,  and  the  roads,  simply 
execrable  before,  now  became  steep  and  slippery,  with  mud- 
holes  in  abundance.  The  pioneer  party,  which  had  previously 
been  doubled,  thenceforward  had  a  most  laborious  duty.  A 
march  of  eleven  miles  brought  the  troops  to  Vansant's  plan 
tation  before  3  P.  M.  The  trains  did  not  come  up  till  near  dusk, 
when  tents  were  immediately  pitched  for  the  night.  It  was  ten 
miles  to  Savanna.  About  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  pour 
ing  rain  set  in,  continuing  till  dawn  of  the  5th ;  by  6  A.  M.  of 
which  day  the  division  was  again  in  motion,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
leading.  The  Tenth  Brigade  reached  Savanna  about  eleven 
o'clock;  the  Nineteenth  Brigade,  which  followed  next,  was 
somewhat  delayed  at  two  deep  fords  a  few  miles  back;  while 
the  Twenty-second  Brigade,  marching  in  the  rear,  did  not 
reach  the  vicinity  of  Savanna  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  The 
batteries  of  artillery  accompanied  their  respective  brigades,  but 

*  This  remarkable  dispatch  Grant's  biographers  very  considerately  for 
bear  to  mention  in  any  manner. 


THE  MARCH  TO  SAVANNA.  237 

many  of  the  wagons,  including  the  division  supply -train,  were 
that  day  brought  no1  further  than  Swift  Creek,  five  miles  back 
toward  Waynesboro'. 

Forty-eight  hours  had  now  elapsed  since  Grant  was  notified 
that  the  Fourth  Division  would  reach  Savanna  on  the  5th ;  yet 
not  a  single  transport  had  been  provided  to  convey  it,  or  any 
portion  of  it,  up  the  Tennessee.  General  Buell  being  still 
several  miles  in  the  rear,  Nelson  reported  directly  to  General 
Grant.  "  We  have  reached  here,"  said  he,  "  after  forced  march 
ing  and  great  hardships.  I  have  not  yet  pitched  my  tents, 
however,  and  I  hope,  General,  you  will  allow  me  to  encamp 
somewhere  near  Pittsburg  Landing." 

"  Not  immediately,  General,"  was  Grant's  reply ;  "  you  will 
encamp,  for  the  present,  at  Savanna." 

Flushed  with  surprise,  Nelson  answered  impulsively,  "Do 
you  not  think  Beauregard  will  attack  you  ?  The  wonder  to 
me  is  that  he  has  not  done  so  before.  If  he  fail  to  attack  your 
present  position,  sir,  he  is  not  the  man  whose  military  discre 
tion  should  govern  the  movements  of  any  army." 

"  Even  if  he  should  attack  me,"  rejoined  Grant,  "  I  have 
more  men  than  I  had  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  in  any  event  can 
hold  my  own." 

Nelson's  answer  was  very  emphatic,  in  nearly  these  words : 
"  If  Beauregard  can  not  defeat  your  army  alone,  how  can  he 
expect  to  defeat  yours  and  Buell's  combined?  Reasoning  in 
this  manner,  I  think  it  very  strange  that  he  has  not  already 
given  you  fight.  He  must  do  it  now  within  five  days,  or  not 
at  all;  and  if  I  encamp  near  Pittsburg  Landing,  I  shall  be 
within  striking  distance,  General,  either  to  hinder  or  to  help." 

"My  order,  General  Nelson,  is  that  you  encamp  here.  I 
shall  go  up  the  river  to-night  or  to-morrow  morning,  and  you 
will  await  further  orders." 


238  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

This  peremptory  command  closed  the  discussion,*  and  the 
Fourth  Division  accordingly  remained  at  Savanna,  the  Tenth 
Brigade  encamping  not  more  than  half  a  mile  south-east 
of  the  village,  and  the  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-second  Bri 
gades  a  short  distance  back  on  the  road  toward  Waynes- 
boro.' 

Later  in  the  day,  Grant,  in  company  with  Nelson,  called  at 
the  head-quarters  of  Colonel  Ammen,  with  whom  he  had  been 
on  terms  of  personal  friendship  for  many  years.  In  the  course 
of  conversation,  Colonel  Ammen  remarked  that,  although  his 
brigade  had  done  some  hard  marching,  it  was  still  in  good 
condition,  and  ready  to  move  to  the  front  at  any  hour.  Grant 
informed  him  that  it  was  nearly  or  quite  impracticable  to  march 
a  column  through  the  swamps  bordering  the  river  to  the  point 
opposite  Pittsburg  Landing  (referring,  of  course,  to  the  passage 
of  artillery  and  trains,  as  well  as  of  infantry),  adding  that  the 
troops  had  better  make  themselves  comfortable  where  they 
were,  and  on  the  "  next  Monday  or  Tuesday,  or  early  in  the 
week,  at  any  rate,"  he  would  send  transports  down  to  take 
them  all  up  together.  In  explanation  of  the  cannonading 
which  had  so  disquieted  the  Fourth  Division,  he  mentioned  the 
fact  that  some  skirmishing  had  taken  place  along  his  lines  on 
both  Thursday  and  Friday,  but  he  spoke  very  confidently  of 
the  strength  of  his  army,  and  in  nearly  the  same  words  that  he 
had  used  to  General  Nelson.  He  alluded  to  the  improbability  of 
any  engagement  being  fought  "  this  side  of  Corinth ; "  and,  on 
leaving,  he  gave  Colonel  Ammen  a  pressing  invitation  to  call 
at  his  head-quarters  on  the  evening  of  the  next  day  (Sunday), 
accompanying  it  with  an  apology  for  deferring  the  appoint- 

*  Dr.  Bradford,  who  was  present  during  the  interview,  and  heard  every 
word  that  passed  between  Grant  and  Nelson,  can  testify  to  the  substantial 
correctness  of  the  above  account  of  it 


THE  MARCH   TO   SAVANNA.  239 

ment  to  that  time  by  saying  that  he  had  an  engagement  for 
the  intervening  evening. 

About  sundown,  General  Buell  reached  Savanna,  having  left 
Crittenden's  division  a  few  miles  in  the  rear.  Grant  had  de 
clined  to  meet  him  until  the  6th,*  and  therefore  he  did  not  ride 
down  into  the  village  to  consult  with  that  officer,  but  passed 
the  night  at  the  head-quarters  of  General  Nelson.  Neverthe 
less,  the  fact  of  his  presence  was  known  at  Savanna,  to  a  por 
tion  of  his  own  troops  at  least. 

With  the  facts  narrated  in  the  foregoing  pages  in  mind,  the 
inaccuracies  of  General  Badeau's  account  are  apparent,  when  it 
says:  "This  day  (April  5th)  the  head  of  Nelson's  column  ar 
rived  at  Savanna,  and  Nelson  himself  reported  to  Grant,  who 
in  person  directeol  him  to  march  his  command  to  a  position 
south  of  Savanna,  and  about  five  miles  from  the  point  opposite 
Pittsburg  Landing;  there,  he  was  to  hold  himself  in  readi 
ness  to  reenforce  the  army  on  the  left  bank  in  case  of  need. 
The  order  was  obeyed,' and  Grant,  having  made  all  his  prepa 
rations  for  removing  his  head-quarters  to  Pittsburg  on  the 
morrow,  remained  to  meet  Buell,  as  that  officer  had  desired." 

The  sun  set  in  a  clear  sky,  the  night  came  on  cool,  tranquil, 
starlighted,  and  the  Fourth  Division,  after  its  long  march, 

*  "  A  message  was  brought  him  [Grant]  from  Buell,  dated  the  4th  of 
April,  requesting  Grant  to  remain  at  Savanna  on  the  5th,  as  he  would 
arrive  there  on  that  day.  '  I  shall  be  in  Savanna  myself  to-morrow,  with 
perhaps  two  divisions,'  said  Buell ;  '  can  I  meet  you  there  ? '  Grant  re 
plied  on  the  5th :  '  Your  dispatch  just  received.  I  will  be  here  to  meet 
you  to-morrow.  The  enemy  at  and  near  Corinth  [not  a  word  about  their 
massing  in  his  immediate  front]  are  probably  from  sixty  to  eighty  thou 
sand.'  Buell,  however,  did  not  arrive  till  the  6th,  or,  if  otherwise,  did  not 
make  it  known  to  his  superior  [which  Grant  was  simply  by  virtue  of  rank, 
not  in  the  sense  of  being  the  commanding  officer],  and  Grant  remained  to 
meet  him." — Badeaus  Life  of  Grant. 


240  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMEXT. 

rested  well,  with  the  prospect  of  enjoying  two  or  three  leisure 
days,  at  least,  at  Savanna.  That  night  a  rebel  army  of  40,000 
muskets  slept  almost  within  sound  of  the  drums  that  beat  the 
tattoo  along  Sherman's  lines,  out  in  the  woods,  whose  shadows 
stretched  for  miles  around  Shiloh  Church.  Meantime,  a  batch 
of  dispatches  were  on  their  way  to  department  head-quarters, 
in  which  occur  the  following  remarkable  passages.* 

GRANT  TO  HALLECK,  APRIL  5,  1862.     (Evening?) 

The  main  force  of  the  enemy  is  at  Corinth,  with  troops  at  dif 
ferent  points  east.  .  .  .  The  number  of  the  enemy  at  Corinth, 
and  within  supporting  distance  of  it,  can  not  be  far  from  eighty 
thousand  men.  .  .  .  Some  skirmishing  took  place  between  our 
outguards  and  the  enemy's,  yesterday  and  the  day  before.  .  .  . 
/  have  scarcely  the  faintest  idea  of  an  attack  (general  one)  being 
made  upon  us,  but  will  be  prepared  should  such  a  thing  take  place. 
.  4-  .  It  is  my  present  intention  to  send  them  [Buell's  three  fore 
most  divisions]  to  Hamburg,  some  four  miles  above  Pittsburg,  when 
they  all  get  here. 

SHERMAN  TO  GRANT,  APRIL  5,  1862. 

All  is  quiet  along  my  lines  now.  The  enemy  has  cavalry  in  our 
front,  and  I  think  there  are  two  regiments  of  infant'ry  and  one  bat 
tery  of  artillery  six  miles  out.  ...  I  have  no  doubt  that 
nothing  will  occur  to-day,  more  than  some  picket  firing.  The 
enemy  is  saucy,  but  got  the  worst  of  it  yesterday,  and  will  not 
press  our  pickets  far.  I  will  not  be  drawn  out  far,  unless  with  cer 
tainty  of  advantage;  and  I  do  not  apprehend  any  thing  like  an 
attack  upon  our  position. 

*  The  italicizing,  of  course,  is  by  the  author  of  this  volume. 


TO   PITTSBUEG   LANDING.  241 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

TO    PITTSBURG    LANDING. 

(APRIL  6,  1862.) 

MORE  beautiful  moruing  never  dawned  than  was  that 
of  Sunday,  April  6,  1862,  upon  the  Tennessee.  The 
troops  of  the  Fourth  Division  were  astir  betimes,  preparing  for 
the  inspection  concerning  which  precise  and  rigid  orders  had 
been  read  (to  the  Tenth  Brigade  at  least)  at  dress  parade  on 
Saturday  evening.  The  sun  was  an  hour  high — perhaps  a 
little  more — when  the  sound  of  cannonading  came  rolling 
heavily  from  the  direction  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  the  reports 
rapidly  increasing  in  volume  and  frequency,  and  the  low 
crackling  of  distant  musketry  filling  every  interlude.  In  that 
roar  General  Kelson  recognized  the  fulfillment  of  his  fears  con 
cerning  the  safety  of  Grant's  army  up  the  river.  He  had  not 
yet  arisen ;  springing  from  his  couch,  he  called  to  Lieutenant 
Southgate,  who  slept  in  an  adjoining  tent,  and  ordered  him  to 
notify  the  brigade  commanders  to  "  have  their  men  in  readi 
ness  to  move  at  any  moment  after  the  end  of  an  hour;"  an 
other  aid  was  dispatched  to  the  river,  to  see  if  any  transports 
had  arrived  during  the  night.  As  the  firing  continued,  Nel 
son,  still  awaiting  Grant's  orders,  chafed  like  a  lion  caged.  He 
ate  no  breakfast,  paced  up  and  down  before  his  tent,  could  not 
be  pacified,  and  would  not  be  pleased  with  any  thing  or  any 
16 


242  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

body  about  him.  He  spoke  repeatedly  of  General  Grant's  hav 
ing  thwarted  his  plans,  or  at  least  disappointed  his  hopes  in 
regard  to  moving  up  to  Pittsburg  Landing  immediately  upon 
his  arrival  at  Savanna ;  and,  finally,  turning  to  Dr.  Bradford, 
he  exclaimed  vehemently :  "  By  G — d,  Bradford,  if  I  get  no  or 
ders  by  twelve  o'clock,  I  will  move  without  them.  I  will  do, 
it,  if  I  have  to  go  back  to  the  deck  of  my  ship  for  it !"  So 
earnest  and  so  frequent  were  General  Nelson's  expressions  of 
this  character  during  the  forenoon,  that  many  of  his  staff  and 
other  officers  then  intimately  associated  with  him,  have  always 
believed  that  he  put  his  division  on  the  march  absolutely  with 
out  orders,  and  the  same  views  have  been  repeatedly  advanced 
in  print.  Such  an  aggregation  of  testimony,  notwithstanding 
its  error  in  regard  to  one  of  the  points  involved,  is  really 
valuable,  because  based  upon  personal  observation  and  ac 
quaintance,  and  much  weight  may  justly  be  claimed  for  it,  in 
considering  those  charges  of  laggardness  and  delinquency  which 
have  been  brought  against  General  Nelson  since  death  sealed 
his  lips  to  eternal  silence.* 

*So  far  as  the  writer  is  aware,  the  first  attempt — at  least,  in  print — 
to  make  General  Nelson  a  scape-goat  for  the  disasters  of  the  first  day  at 
Shiloh,  was  in  a  foot-note  given  in  Professor  Coppe6's  "Grant  and  his 
Campaigns,"  published  in  January,  1866,  which  reads  as  follows:  "Gen 
eral  Grant,  hearing  that  Nelson's  division  had  arrived  on  the  night  of  the 
5th  in  the  vicinity  of  Savanna,  had  sent  him  an  order  as  early  as  seven 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  to  move  to  a  point  on  the  river  oppo 
site  Pittsburg  Landing,"  etc.  General  Rawlins,  Grant's  Chief  of  Staff,  is 
understood  to  have  given  the  above  work  a  somewhat  elaborate  revision 
"in  proof,"  but,  perhaps,  it  would  be  unjust  to  hold  him  responsible  for 
this  shameful  distortion  of  the  truth,  although  it  is  worthy  of  note  that 
the  text  of  Professor  Copper's  book  is  entirely  free  from  any  ungenerous 
reflections  upon  General  Nelson.  However  this  may  be,  the  following 
statement  contained  in  General  Rawlins'  address  before  the  Society  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  at  its  first  annual  reunion,  November  14, 


TO   PITTSBUKG   LANDING.  243 

Unwilling  longer  to  endure  his  torturing  suspense,  General 
Nelson  mounted  his  horse,  and  galloped  down  to  Grant's  head 
quarters;  for,  although  Buell  was  his  immediate  commander, 
the  necessities  of  the  occasion,  as  well  as  Halleck's  instructions, 
invested  Grant  with  the  control  of  all  movements  made  directly 
in  the  presence  of  the  enemy  at  this  stage  of  the  campaign. 
This  was  about  eight  o'clock — possibly  a  few  minutes  later 
than  that  hour.  Either  at  Grant's  head-quarters  or  soon  after 
his  return  from  there,  Nelson  received  an  order  which  Badeau 

quotes  as  follows: 

SAVANNA,  April  6,  1862. 

Brigadier-General  Wm.  Nelson,  Commanding  Division  in  Buell' s  Army: 

An  attack  having  been  made  on  our  forces,  you  will  move 
your  entire  command  to  the  river  opposite  Pittsburg.  You  can 
easily  obtain  a  guide  in  the  village. 

By  order  of 

MAJOR-GENEEAL  GRANT. 
JOHN  A.  RAWLINS,  A.  A.  G. 

General  Buell,  going  to  Grant's  head-quarters  at  or  about 
the  same  time,  found  the  following  note  there  awaiting  him : 

SAVANNA,  April  6,  1862. 
General  D.  C.  Buell: 

Heavy  firing  is  heard  up  the  river,  indicating  plainly  that  an 

1866,  demands  examination  almost  equally  with  the  preceding:  "General 
Grant,  hearing  artillery  firing  in  the  direction  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  or 
dered  General  Nelson  to  march  his  command,  rapidly  as  possible,  to  the 
point  on  the  Tennessee  River  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing,"  etc.  The  order 
in  question  was  written  by  General  (then  Captain)  Rawlins  himself,  and, 
as  the  reader  will  perceive  by  consulting  the  text,  does  not  contain  the 
words  "rapidly  as  possible,"  nor  any  thing  like  them,  nor  were  there  any 
verbal  orders  given  which  could  have  embodied  them.  Touching  a  vital 
point  in  the  Shiloh  controversy,  as  it  does,  and  casting  serious  imputations 
upon  the  honor  of  a  soldier  lying  in  his  grave,  this  interpolation  is  inex 
cusable. 


244  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

attack  has  been  made  upon  our  most  advanced  positions.  I  have 
been  looking  for  this,  but  did  not  believe  the  attack  could  be 
made  before  Monday  or  Tuesday.  This  necessitates  my  joining  the 
forces  up  the  river  instead  of  meeting  you  to-day  as  I  had  con 
templated.  I  have  directed  General  Nelson  to  move  to  the  river 
with  his  division.  He  can  march  to  opposite  Pittsburg. 
Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT, 
Major- General  Commanding* 

Grant  was  accordingly  on  the  way  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  on 
his  dispatch-boat,  the  steamer  Tigress.  Supplementing  •  the 
remarkable  interview  of  the  day  before,  his  order  to  General 
Nelson  had  the  import  of  a  permission  to  carry  out  Nelson's 

*  In  this  note  the  prominent  feature  is  a  tone  of  apology  for  having 
again  disappointed  Buell  in  regard  to  a  personal  conference.  As  a  mat 
ter  of  information,  and  to  relieve  Buell  of  present  care  in  regard  to  the 
movements  of  Nelson,  Grant  mentions  the  fact  that  the  latter  will  con 
tinue  the  march  by  his  orders.  The  phraseology  is  worth  noting — Nel 
son  u can  march,"  etc.,  not  "will  march,"  as  both  custom  and  propriety 
of  language  would  have  shaped  the  expression  had  Grant  been  speaking 
of  an  order  to  push  forward  needed  reinforcements.  Knowing  that  two 
other  divisions  of  Buell' s  army  are  only  a  few  miles  back  toward  Waynes- 
boro',  Grant  never  so  much  as  hints  that  it  might  be  well  to  hasten  their 
movements,  much  less  does  he  promise  to  send  transports  for  them  to 
Savanna,  as  it  was  afterward  found  necessary  to  do.  True,  he  speaks  of 
an  attack,  but  it  is  "upon  our  most  advanced  positions,"  not  "  upon  our  po 
sition,"  nor  "  our  camp;"  and  the  term  here  employed  accords  exactly  with 
Grant's  explanation,  in  a  private  letter  to  a  friend  at  the  North  (written 
a  few  days  after  the  battle,  and  published  in  the  Cincinnati  Commercial], 
that  he  had  not  anticipated  any  thing  more  serious  on  the  part  of  the 
enemy  than  a  reconnoissance  in  force.  This  explanation,  which  was  no 
doubt  a  truthful  one,  reconciles  the  apparent  discrepancy  between  the 
above  note  to  Buell  and  Grant's  pacific  assurances  to  General  Halleck  on 
the  previous  evening. 


TO   PITTSBUEG   LANDING.  245 

original  plan,  rather  than  of  an  imperative  command  to  move 
reinforcements  to  a  battle-field,  as  Grant's  biographers  have 
construed  it.  The  primary  significance  of  the  statement,  "  An 
attack  having  been  made  on  our  forces,"  is  probably  to  be 
found  in  a  certain  deference  to  General  Buell,  Nelson's  imme 
diate  commander,  who,  until  a  short  time  before,  had  ranked 
Grant.  The  latter  naturally  felt  some  delicacy  in  assuming  to 
command  Nelson  directly,  under  Buell's  own  eye  as  it  was, 
and  hence  this  phrase  in  explanation.  It  is  quite  clear  that 
when  he  started  for  Pittsburg  Landing,  Grant  had  no  serious 
apprehensions  that  a  general  engagement  was  in  progress; 
which  will  seem  less  surprising  when  we  remember  that  Gen 
eral  Sherman,  who  was  on  the  ground,  and  occupying  with  his 
division  the  outermost  camps,  was  not  convinced  of  that  fact 
until  eight  o'clock  that  morning.*  Grant  left  the  impression 
behind  him  at  Savanna  (which  continued  for  some  hours 
among  the  officers  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee)  that  the  fir 
ing  was  merely  an  affair  of  outposts.  Moreover,  he  had  three 
regiments  of  his  own  army  at  Savanna,f  where  every  man  of 
them  in  sound  health  was  now  entirely  superfluous;  yet  he 
sent  them  no  orders  to  accompany  Nelson,  nor  even  to  prepare 
to  move  at  all. 

Unleashed  at  last,  Nelson  returned  from  the  head-quarters 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  dispatched  the  necessary 

*"  About  8  A.  M.,  I  saw  the  glistening  bayonets  of  heavy  masses  of 
infantry  to  our  left  front,  in  the  woods  beyond  the  small  stream  alluded 
to,  and  became  satisfied  for  the  first  time  that  the  enemy  designed  a  deter 
mined  attack  upon  our  whole  camp." — General  Shermans  Official  Re 
port. 

f"At  Savanna  were  three  regiments  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  Nelson's  division  of  Buell's  army,  which  had  arrived  the  day  be 
fore." — Address  of  General  Rawlins  to  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee. 


246  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

orders  to  his  brigade  commanders.  It  was  difficult  to  recon 
cile  Grant's  order  to  "march  to  a  point  opposite  Pittsburg" 
with  his  previous  declarations  regarding  the  impracticability 
of  the  roads  thither;  lie  had  given  no  explanations,  nor  had 
he  left  any  one  behind  who  could  give  them ;  and  he  was 
greatly  mistaken  in  supposing  that  a  guide  could  easily  be  ob 
tained  in  the  village,  since  the  few  citizens  who  could  be  found 
were  indisposed  to  communicate  the  desired  information,  even 
if  they  possessed  it.  All  knew  that  there  were  wagon-paths 
up  through  the  woods  and  swamps  to  the  point  designated, 
but  the  recent  high  waters  had  flooded  the  bottoms,  and  the 
prevailing  impression  seemed  to  be  that  those  routes  were  still 
impassable.  Always  quick  to  decide  in  case  of  emergency, 
General  Nelson  directed  his  adjutant-general,  Captain  Ken- 
drick,  to  take  his  cavalry  escort,  and  make  an  examination  of 
the  roads  with  all  possible  speed. 

As  yet,  no  definite  tidings  had  come  from  the  battle-field, 
but  the  continuous  rumbling  of  artillery  in  the  direction  of 
Grant's  camps  could  hardly  be  misunderstood,  and  already 
rumors  of  disaster  were  beginning  to  flit  through  the  air. 
XDminous  although  these  rumors  were,  they  did  not  tell  one- 
half  the  tale.  Sherman's  and  McClernand's  divisions,  break 
ing  and  crumbling  under  the  fierce  onslaught  of  the  enemy, 
were  being  forced  back,  still  back,  toward  the  landing;  frag 
mentary  bands  of  heroes,  halting  here,  rallying  there,  even 
attempting  a  desperate  charge  now  and  then,  were  fighting 
stubbornly,  where  and  how  they  could,  but  at  such  fearful  dis 
advantage  as  men  must  fight  who  have  been  overmatched  in 
generalship,  and  are  overborne  by  numbers.  Prentiss'  little 
division  of  perfectly  raw  troops,  on  the  left,  had  been  struck 
still  earlier,  and  as  an  organization  had  almost  melted  away 
at  once.  Hurlbut's  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  divisions  were 


TO   PITTSBURG   LANDING.  247 

struggling  gallantly  to  stem  the  tide  of  defeat,  but  with  little 
hope,  and  still  less  prospect,  of  success,  although  every  man 
who  could  be  brought  into  action  was  already  engaged.  Thou 
sands  of  panic-stricken  fugitives,  abandoning  braver  comrades 
to  their  fate,  had  fled  to  the  landing,  some  of  them  without 
firing  a  gun.  Happily,  however,  the  Fourth  Division,  as  yet, 
was  ignorant  of  these  details. 

During  the  absence  of  Captain  Kendrick,  General  Nelson's 
situation  was  distressing  in  the  extreme;  anxious,  eager,  im 
patient  to  move  to  the  field,  yet  restrained  in  idle  waiting  by 
a  train  of  circumstances  that  had  foiled  all  his  energy  and  fore 
sight.  A  number  of  empty  transports  were  known  to  be  lying 
at  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  it  was  reasonable  to  suppose  that, 
if  the  action  was  not  progressing  satisfactorily,  they  would  be 
sent  down  to  bring  up  Crittenden's  troops,  in  which  case 
Nelson  could  have  pressed  them  into  service  for  the  Fourth 
Division.  As  it  turned  out,  however,  Grant  did  not  send 
down  any  steamers  until  after  Buell  had  gone  up  the  river, 
and  Buell,  at  this  time,  was  with  Nelson  at  Savanna.  Grant's 
first  message  from  the  battle-field  did  not  reach  Nelson  until 
some  time  after  noon ;  in  fact,  it  was  half-past  eleven*  when 
orders  reached  General  Lewis  Wallace,  commanding  an  out 
lying  division  of  Grant's  own  army,  at  Crump's  Landing, 
which  was  five  miles  nearer  the  scene  of  conflict,  and  upon  the 
same  side  of  the  Tennessee. 

Early  in  the  day,  immediately  upon  being  notified  to  have 
the  Tenth  Brigade  in  readiness  to  move  at  the  end  of  an  hour, 

*"At  half-past  eleven  o'clock  the  anticipated  orders  arrived,"  etc. — 
Major-General  Lewis  Wallace's  Official  Report 

General  Grant,  as  is  well  known,  was  greatly  disposed  to  censure  Wal 
lace  for  the  late  arrival  of  that  officer's  splendid  division,  but  even  his 
report  does  not  claim  that  the  order  was  delivered  Wallace  before  eleven. 


248  THE   STORY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

Colonel  Ammen  directed  Quartermaster  Wiggins  to  go  to  the 
Post  Commissary  and  draw  rations,  the  men  having  but  two 
more  meals  in  their  haversacks.  Captain  Wiggins  returned 
with  the  information  that  not  a  barrel  of  crackers  was  to  be 
had  in  Savanna,  upon  which  he  was  ordered  back  to  the  sup 
ply-train  at  Swift  Creek,  sparing  neither  spurs  nor  horseflesh 
in  so  doing,  to  hasten  forward  the  wagons.  This  order  was 
promptly  executed;  and  having  got  every  thing  ready  for  an 
immediate  start,  including  the  hitching  up  of  the  artillery,  Col 
onel  Ammen,  at  about  eleven  o'clock,  went  down  to  the  land 
ing,  where  he  found  Buell  and  Nelson  anxiously  looking  up 
the  river  for  the  smoke  of  the  transports,  which  they  hoped,  if 
not  expected,  Grant  had  sent  for  the  other  reinforcements  which 
he  knew  were  at  and  near  Savanna,  even  if  Nelson's  division 
had  started.*  There  had  been  no  lull  in  the  sullen  sounds  of 
battle,  of  any  consequence,  since  the  firing  first  broke  out. 
Buell  was  reserved  and  moody;  Nelson  manifested  his  impa 
tience  more  plainly,  though  it  was  restrained  in  some  measure 
by  the  presence  of  his  superior.  Both  seemed  disappointed  by 

*  We  have  seen  that  Grant  had  three  regiments  of  his  own  army  lying 
at  Savanna;  and  on  Saturday,  April  5th,  he  advised  Halleck  by  telegraph 
of  the  near  approach  of  two  divisions  of  Buell' s  army,  in  addition  to  Nel 
son's  command,  which  had  already  arrived,  showing  that  he  knew  the 
actual  proximity  of  Crittenden  and  McCook.  The  following  extract  from 
General  Buell' s  official  report  states  one  or  two  facts  that  have  been  sin 
gularly  overlooked  in  every  account  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh  that  has  yet 
come  to  the  writer's  notice:  "  Finding  General  Grant  at  the  landing,  I  re 
quested  him  to  send  steamers  to  Savanna,  to  bring  up  General  Crittenden' s 
division,  which  had  arrived  during  the  morning.1'  Colonel  Gibson's  brigade, 
of  McCook' s  division,  was  obliged  to  lay  at  Savanna  all  Sunday  night  and 
a  part  of  the  next  morning,  waiting  for  transportation,  and  did  not  get  into 
the  fight  until  nearly  noon  of  Monday.  So  much  for  the  tardiness  in 
bringing  up  Crittenden' s  troops. 


TO   PITTSBURG    LANDING.  249* 

the  non-appearance  of  the  boats,  and  both  expressed  their  per 
plexity  at  the  unaccountable  silence  of  General  Grant,  from 
whom  no  word  of  any  kind  had  been  received  since  his  de 
parture  in  the  morning. 

Leaving  them  still  at  the  landing,  Colonel  Ammen,  by  their 
permission,  went  to  the  house  near  by,  in  which  General  Charles 
F.  Smith,  an  old  associate  in  the  regular  service,  was  lying  ill 
of  the  disease  which  afterward  carried  him  to  the  grave.  Col 
onel  Ammen  remarked  that  they  seemed  to  be  having  consid 
erable  of  a  fight  up  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  judging  from  the 
heavy  firing.  Full  of  energy  and  fire,  the  gallant  old  veteran 
rejoined  that  it  was  nothing  more  than  a  skirmish,  and  rallied 
Ammen  good-naturedly,  because  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  never 
having  smelled  gunpowder,  fancied  every  skirmish  a  battle; 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  had  faced  the  music  before,  and 
they  knew  better.  Such  was  the  opinion,  at  half-past  eleven 
or  twelve  o'clock,  of  the  most  accomplished  soldier  in  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee — Grant's  old  commandant  at  West 
Point,  and  now  his  most  trusted  counselor — away  from  the 
field,  of  course,  but  within  sound  of  all  its  artillery  fire  at 
least. 

Recalled  by  a  message  from  Nelson,  Colonel  Ammen  hast 
ened  down  to  find  that  General  Buell  had  ordered  a  little 
craft  at  the  landing  to  get  under  steam,  and  was  going  to  the 
front;  the  division  had  orders  to  start  at  one  o'clock,  leaving  all 
its  trains  and  artillery  behind.  Captain  Kendrick  had  carried 
out  his  instructions  with  such  stress  of  energy  as  to  kill  several 
horses  and  leave  behind  a  number  of  men.  He  reached  Nel 
son's  head-quarters,  on  his  return,  about  twelve  o'clock,  and 
reported  that  the  road  along  the  river  bank  was  impassable 
from  its  obstruction  by  swollen  streams.  The  other  road  was 
equally  winding,  but,  being  on  higher  ground  for  the  greater 


250  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT.  i 

part  of  the  distance,  it  was  practicable  for  infantry  and  cav 
alry,  though  not  for  artillery. 

At  one  o'clock,*  Ammen's  brigade  moved  out  of  camp,  in 
the  following  order :  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Colonel  Grose,  with 
an  advanced  guard  of  four  companies,  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Carey ;  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Jones;  Sixth  Ohio,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson.  One  com 
pany  from  each  regiment  being  ordered  to  stay  with  the  trains 
and  baggage,  Company  I  was  detailed  for  this  duty  in  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  because  its  numerical  weakness  made  it  the  one  most  eas 
ily  spared.  Bruce's  brigade,  the.  Twenty-second,  followed  next 
after  Ammen's,  with  the  Nineteenth  Brigade,  Colonel  Hazen's,  • 
in  the  rear.  Company  D,  of  the  Second  Kentucky,  Captain 
J.  W.  Miller  commanding,  was  left  behind  with  the  artillery. 

General  Nelson  remained  at  Savanna  long  enough  to  see  the 
last  regiment  fairly  on  the  march,  by  which  time  the  foremost 
brigade  was  a  considerable  distance  in  advance,  under  the  guid 
ance  of  a  native  Tennesseean,  whose  services  had  been  secured 
about  the  time  of  Captain  Kendrick's  return,  and  possibly  by 
that  officer.  By  the  route  which  the  Fourth  Division  was 
obliged  to  take,  the  distance  from  Savanna  to  the  point  oppo 
site  Pittsburg  Landing  is  not  less  than  eight  miles.  The  troops 
marched  briskly,  the  column  well  closed  up,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  first  hour  Colonel  Ammen  rested  his  brigade  at  a  clearing 
somewhat  less  than  half-way  to  Pittsburg.  Just  beyond  this 

*  Nelson's  official  report  says  that  his  division  moved  at  half-past  one, 
but  this  statement  is  not  quite  accurate,  unless  it  be  understood  to  reffcr 
to  the  rearmost  brigade.  The  concurrence  of  a  great  amount  of  other 
testimony  is  conclusive  upon  this  point.  A  fuller  description  of  the  march 
from  Savanna  and  the  scenes  at  Pittsburg  Landing  than  it  is  possible  to 
embody  in  the  main  narrative  will  be  found  in  Part  II,  in  the  chapters 
entitled  "Coming  up  at  Shiloh"  and  "Battle  Pictures  from  Shiloh." 


TO   PITTSBUEG   LANDING.  251 

point,  the  road  makes  a  sudden  bend  to  the  right,  descends 
abruptly  into  the  low  bottom-lands  bordering  the  Tennessee, 
and  thenceforward  is  merely  a  wagon-path  through  woods  and 
marshes.  The  Tenth  Brigade  had  just  resumed  its  march, 
when  General  Nelson,  mounted  on  the  large  and  powerful  bay 
horse  that  his  troops  all  recognized  as  his  favorite  when  there 
was  work  on  hand,  rode  rapidly  past  to  the  head  of  the  col 
umn,  where  he  slackened  his  speed  for  the  purpose  of  instruct 
ing  Colonel  Ammen  to  press  the  men  forward  as  fast  as  could 
be  done  without  breaking  them  down,  and  then  went  forward 
with  the  guide,  telling  Colonel  Ammett  that  he  could  follow  their 
trail.  Immediately  upon  descending  into  the  bottom,  the  troops 
found  the  difficulties  of  the  march  much  increased,  and,  although 
they  were  stimulated  by  the  ever-nearing  roar  of  battle  and  were 
eager  to  be  in  the  fight,  their  progress  was  slow  and  exceedingly 
laborious. 

General  Badeau  says  that  soon  after  reaching  the  battle-field 
Grant  sent  Nelson  an  order,  in  writing,  as  follows :  "  You  will 
hurry  up  your  command  as  fast  as  possible.  The  boats  will  be 
in  readiness  to  transport  all  troops  of  your  command  across  the 
river.  All  looks  well,  but  it  is  necessary  for  you  to  push  for 
ward  as  fast  as  possible."  Such  was  the  change  which  had  come 
over  the  spirit  of  his  dream  since  the  previous  evening  !  What 
ever  the  hour  at  which  this  dispatch  was  penned,  there  is  indu 
bitable  evidence  that  Nelson  had  not  received  it  when  he  put 
his  division  on  the  march;  but  the  above-mentioned  order  to 
Colonel  Ammen  renders  it  probable  that  it  reached  him  soon 
afterward,  or  some  time  between  one  and  two  o'clock. 

Nelson  was  a  hard  rider,  and  soon  left  the  column  behind, 
a  portion  of  his  staff  and  Dr.  Bradford  accompanying  him. 
When  within  two  or  three  miles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  one 
of  General  Grant's  aids  rode  up,  mounted  upon  the  same  dun 


252  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

stallion  which  Grant  had  ridden  the  day  before  at  Savanna, 
and  told  General  Nelson  to  press  forward  his  men,  or  the  fight 
would  be  lost.  The  order  was  verbal,  not  in  writing.  It  was 
immediately  transmitted  to  Colonel  Ammen,  who,  fearing  the 
effeet  of  such  news  upon  the  men,  turned  the  messenger  back, 
with  the  answer  that  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  coming  without 
one  moment's  unnecessary  delay,  and  also  sent  forward  his 
adjutant-general  to  intercept  any  other  couriers  who  might  be 
met  bearing  similar  tidings.  The  division  took  the  double- 
quick,  but  could  not  maintain  the  pace  on  account  of  the  heav 
iness  of  the  roadway  and  the  innumerable  delays  encountered 
in  crossing  ponds  arid  marshy  places.  The  afternoon,  too,  was 
oppressively  sultry.  At  length  the  column  debouched  into  a 
clearing  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing.  On  the  bluif  above  the 
latter,  and  back  in  the  woods  beyond,  artillery  was  thunder 
ing,  while  still  heavier  explosions  up  the  river  told  where  the 
gunboats  Tyler  and  Lexington  were  at  work — it  was  impossi 
ble  to  mistake  the  sound  of  their  thirty-two-pounders  for  any 
lighter  metal.  Thousands  of  troops,  whom  Nelson's  men  at 
first  mistook  for  reserves,  thronged  the  landing.  A  number 
of  transports,  with  steam  up,  were  in  sight,  several  of  them 
crowded  with  wounded  and  skulkers  from  the  battle-field.  It 
was  well  for  the  Fourth  Division,  and  well  also  for  Grant's 
beaten  army,  that  Nelson's  men  were  not  fully  apprized  of  the 
appalling  events  which  had  transpired  in  the  depths  of  the 
woods  on  the  further  side  of  the  Tennessee. 

Beaching  Pittsburg  Landing  about  nine  o'clock,*  General 

*  Following  General  Rawlins'  narrative,  Badeau  says  Grant  reached 
Pittsburg  Landing  "at  about  eight  o'clock."  He  could  not  have  done  it 
much  before  nine.  He  did  not  leave  Savanna  until  after  half-past  seven,  and 
had  to  stop  at  Crump's  Landing,  on  his  way  up  the  river,  to  see  General 
Lew.  Wallace.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  not  one  of  the  official  reports  of 


TO   PITTSBURG   LAXDIXG.  253 

Grant  had  exerted  himself  to  the  full  extent  of  his  ability  to  avert 
the  calamities  that  his  previous  mismanagement  had  invited; 
but  it  was  little  that  he  could  then  do  toward  atoning  for  the 
infatuation  of  three  weeks,  and  it  was  comparatively  little  that 
he  attempted.  His  conduct  showed  nothing  of  brilliancy  and 
mental  grasp,  nor  even  of  personal  daring,  worthy  to  be  named 
in  the  same  breath  with  Rosecrans'  part  at  Stone  River,  or  Sher 
idan's  apparition  upon  the  lost  field  of  Cedar  Creek;  in  fact,  there 
was  no  occasion  for  just  such  displays  of  generalship  as  have 
made  those  fields  forever  famous ;  and  if  there  had  been,  Grant 
was  not  the  man  to  make  them.  The  story,  however,  that 
Grant  was  drunk  has  no  foundation  in  truth ;  and  it  is  doubt 
less  true  that  throughout  all  that  awful  Sabbath  he  never  lost 
heart,  in  which  there  was  a  foreshadowing,  even  at  Shiloh, 
of  his  future  successes,  and  a  signal  exhibition  of  that  grand 
tenacity  of  purpose  which  constitutes  one  of  his  clearest  titles 
to  greatness. 

Hour  after  hour  the  storm  of  battle  beat  upon  the  confused 
and  often  illy-posted  lines  of  the  shattered  divisions  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  hour  by  hour  the  gallant  men 
who  did  stand  and  fight  were  being  driven  further  from  their 
camps  and  nearer  to  the  river.  About  half-past  three  in  the 
afternoon,  Bfagg  hurled  a  heavily-massed  column  against  the 

Grant's  subordinates  (none  at  least  of  those  which  are  in  print  at  this  date) 
makes  any  mention  of  his  presence  at  the  front  during  Sunday  forenoon. 
General  Sherman,  however,  in  his  letter  to  the  United  States  Service  Mag 
azine,  says  that  Grant  was  "at  his  front  at  10  A.  M.,  and  in  a  short  time 
went  over  to  the  left,"  etc.  In  all  probability,  Grant  rode  out  to  Sher 
man's  lines  first,  as  there  was  where  the  heaviest  fighting  was  then  in 
progress ;  and,  besides,  he  would  naturally  go  to  Sherman  for  trustworthy 
information  touching  the  sudden  and  terrible  change  which  affairs  had 
undergone  since  the  preceding  day. 


254  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

Union  left,  and  sweeping  it  away  as  the  whirlwind  sweeps  up 
the  leaves  in  autumn,  captured  General  Prentiss,  with  nearly 
the  whole  of  that  officer's  command  which  had  not  fled  from 
the  fight  eight  hours  before,  and  forced  back  the  fragmentary 
remnants  of  Hurlbut's  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  divisions  to 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  landing. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
was  fought  is  a  circumstance  of  more  essential  importance 
than  annalists  have  generally  regarded  it,  since,  had  it  been 
clear  of  timber  and  less  broken,  Grant's  army  must  have  been 
destroyed  before  reinforcements  could  arrive.  Most  fortu 
nately,  the  weight  of  the  rebel  attack,  on  Sunday  afternoon, 
fell  upon  the  Union  left,  where  the  ground  was  particularly 
favorable  for  defense;  and  when  Hurlbut  made  a  last  des 
perate  stand,  with  such  forces  as  could  be  rallied  after  the 
crowning  disaster  of  the  afternoon,  it  was  in  a  position  where 
his  left  flank  was  protected  by  a  deep  and  rugged  ravine, 
flooded  for  a  considerable  distance  by  the  high  waters  of  the 
Tennessee.  The  same  ravine,  gradually  becoming  less  and 
less  marked  as  it  recedes  from  the  river,  extended  along  most, 
or  perhaps  all,  of  his  front  also. 

The  rebel  army  was  scarcely  less  disorganized  by  victory 
than  was  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  by  defeat;  but  Bragg 
soon  had  his  forces  in  hand,  and  delivered  another  furious 
attack,  his  right  coming  down  to  within  an  eighth  of  a  mile  of 
the  landing,  and  the  shells  from  his  artillery  falling  thickly 
into  the  river  a  short  distance  above  that  point.*  At  this 
crisis  the  gunboats  came  into  action  with  beautiful  effect.  The 
siege-guns  designed  for  the  reduction  of  Corinth,  but  toward 
which  they  had  been  moved  only  a  few  hundred  yards  from. 

*  Official  report  of  Lieutenant  James  W.  Shirk,  commanding  gunboat 
Lexington. 


TO   PITTSBURG   LANDING.  255 

the  landing,  together  with  such  portions  of  the  field  artillery 
as  had  been  saved  from  capture,  were  also  served  with  great 
efficiency,  under  the  management  of  Colonel  Webster,  Grant's 
chief  of  artillery.  Under  such  a  concentration  of  artillery 
fire,  Bragg's  charging  columns  found  the  ravine  a  most  formi 
dable  barrier,  and  thus  the  enemy  was  somehow  held  at  bay 
while  Nelson's  division  was  filing  down  to  the  river's  brink 
opposite  Pittsburg  Landing.  Bragg  was  not  surprised  to  find 
a  desperate  resistance  on  the  part  of  an  enemy  who  could  yield 
nothing  more  without  yielding  every  thing.  He  had  planted 
his  artillery  so  as  to  command  the  vital  spot  of  the  Union 
position,  and  had  gathered  his  forces  for  a  grand,  decisive 
effort  while  daylight  yet  remained,  when  a  power  appeared 
upon  the  scene  for  which  he  was  in  nowise  prepared — Am- 
nien's  brigade  was  even  then  crossing  the  river. 


256  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

SHILOH. 

(APRIL  6  AND  7,  1862.) 

OX  reaching  the  river,  opposite  the  battle-field,  General 
Nelson  looked  in  vain  for  the  promised  boats.  The  two 
or  three  stern-wheel  steamers  that  were  lying  under  the  eastern 
bank  had  come  over  simply  to  avoid  the  rush  of  the  mob  on 
the  further  shore,  not,  however,  until  after  some  scores  of  the 
scared  wretches  had  succeeded  in  getting  on  board.  Nelson 
had  almost  to  force  the  captains  of  these  boats  to  take  his  fore 
most  regiment,  the  Thirty -sixth  Indiana,  across ;  and,  having 
given  orders  to  Colonel  Ammen  to  get  his  brigade  over  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  then  follow^  in  person,  crossed  to  Pitts- 
burg  Landing.  He  was  the  first  to  ride  off  the  boat,  Dr.  Brad 
ford  being  the  second.  General  Buell  met  him  on  the  bank, 
and  ordered  the  men  formed  rapidly  into  line,  as  they  should 
arrive,  and  moved  to  the  front.  "  You  have  had  the  advance 
throughout  the  march/7  said  Buell,  "and  here,  General,  is  your 
opportunity.  There  is  still  one  hour  left  in  which  to  decide 
this  fight."  At  this  time  the  roar  of  battle  sounded  appallingly 
near ;  every  thing  was  in  confusion ;  thousands  of  panic-stricken 
fugitives  were  cowering  under  the  bluff,  filling  the  air  with  their 
cries  and  lamentations ;  and  hundreds  of  teams,  with  all  the 
debris  of  a  beaten  army,  were  commingled  in  the  utmost  dis- 


SHILOH.  257 

order,  and  covered  the  landing  down  to  the  water's  edge.  It 
was  a  sickening  sight — one  that  has  never  been  adequately 
described,  and  never  ^an  be.  Finding  that  words  were  thrown 
away  upon  the  rabble  around  him,  General  Nelson  afterward 
asked  permission  to  open  fire  upon  them.  "  Get  out  of  the 
way,  you  d — d  cowards ! "  he  exclaimed,  furiously,  as  a  rush 
was  made  toward  one  of  the  boats  whence  a  detachment  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio  was  disembarking ;  "  get  out  of  the  way !  If  you 
won't  fight  yourselves,  let  these  men  off  that  will.  Sixth 
Ohio,  follow  me !  " 

Upon  the  bluff  overlooking  the  landing,  General  Grant  was 
met,  moody  and  silent,  and  at  that  moment  on  foot.  Colonel 
Ammen,  having  meantime  transmitted  to  Colonels  Bruce  and 
Hazen  the  order  to  hurry  the  men  across,  reported  to  Nelson 
upon  the  bluff.  The  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  was  over.  Com 
panies  A,  F,  and  D,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  were  landing,  and 
the  Twenty-fourth,  and  the  remaining  companies  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  were  either  in  the  stream  or  in  the  act  of  embarking. 
Grant  told  Ammen  that  he  wanted  him  to  support  "that  bat 
tery  on  the  left  there,"  pointing,  as  he  spoke,  to  Captain 
Stone's  battery ;  whereupon  Colonel  Ammen  hastened  to  form 
such  of  his  troops  as  had  already  arrived.  While  affairs  were 
in  this  posture,  a  cannon-ball  came  whistling  between  the  trees^ 
took  the  head  of  one  of  Grant's  orderlies  off,  shot  away  the 
saddle  from  under  Lieutenant  Graves,  one  of  Nelson's  aids> 
and  went  plunging  over  the  bluff  into  the  river  below,  produc 
ing  consternation  indescribable  among  the  thousands  herded 
about  the  landing.  "Don't  stop  to  form,  colonel,  don't  stop 
to  form!"  implored  a  staff  officer,  hurrying  toward  Colonel 
Ammen  ;  "  we  shall  all  be  massacred  if  you  do !  There  is  n't 
a  man  out  yonder,  on  the  left,  between  us  and  the  rebels ! 
For  God's  sake,  colonel,  hurry  your  men  forward ! "  The 
17 


258  THE   STORY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

blessing  that  "Uncle  Jakey"  gave  that  demented  creature, 
was  long  a  favorite  source  of  merriment  around  the  camp-fires 
of  the  Tenth  Brigade. 

As  soon  as  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  could  be  formed,  and, 
without  waiting  for  the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  Colonel 
Ammen  moved  it  forward — General  Buell,  who  had  previously 
examined  the  ground,  showing  him  where  to  post  it.  The 
position  assigned  it  was  only  about  two  hundred  yards  from 
the  bluff,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  line,  if  line  it  mi^ht 

'  f  O 

still  have  been  called,  and  behind  the  crest  of  the  hill  that 
rises  above  the  ravine  before  described.  Companies  A,  F,  and 
D,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  formed  on  its  left,  and  a  little  in  the  rear, 
but  the  rebel  attack  was  too  far  to  their  right  to  permit  them 
to  get  into  action  that  night.  In  this  quarter  the  artillery 
had  been  left  absolutely  without  any  organized  infantry  sup 
port,  aynd  the  handful  of  troops  that  still  remained,  chiefly 
cannoneers,  were  in  extreme  disorder.  Had  Bragg  been  able 
to  renew  his  assault  upon  this  portion  of  the  Union  lines  twenty 
minutes  earlier  than  he  did — that  is,  before  the  opportune  arri 
val  of  Ammen's  brigade — in  all  human  probability  he  would 
have  forced  the  position.  Colonel  Grose  brought  into  action 
eight*  companies,  about  four  hundred  strong,  his  remaining  two 
companies  having  been  left  on  other  duty  at  Savanna.  The 
regiment  had  hardly  completed  its  alignment  when  the  rebels 
made  their  appearance,  massed  in  column  of  attack,  moving 
steadily  toward  it,  in  a  direction  somewhat  oblique  to  Colonel 
Grose's  line  of  battle — the  backwater  in  the  ravine  having 
compelled  them  to  strike  somewhat  higher  up  than  the  posi 
tion  originally  aimed  at.  The  Thirty-sixth  immediately  gave 
them  a  volley,  which  was  promptly  returned.  The  regiment 
had  never  been  under  fire  before.  It  had  formed  under  circum 
stances  the  most  discouraging  possible  to  new  troops,  losing 


SHILOH.  259 

one  man  killed  in  so  doing ;  but,  being  well  and  coolly  com 
manded,  the  men  stood  up  to  their  work  most  gallantly. 
Amazed  at  the  warmth  of  their  reception,  the  rebels  still 
strove  to  close  in  upon  their  antagonists ;  but  they  could  not 
face  such  a  fire,  in  the  disadvantageous  position  in  which  they 
found  themselves  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  were 
forced  to  retire  in  disorder.  Twice  in  quick  succession  the 
attack  was  repeated,  and  twice  more  it  was  beaten  off,  Grose's 
men  expending  a  total  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  rounds.  Prisoners 
captured  the  next  day  reported  four  hundred  men  killed  and 
disabled  i  in  these  three  assaults.  This  \vas  probably  an  exag 
geration,  but  the  rebels  certainly  lost  heavily. 

It  is  General  Badeau's  good  fortune,  as  the  eulogist  of  Grant, 
(though  not  so,  for  his  reliability  as  a  historian,)  that  he  was 
not  present  at  Shiloh,  a  fact  which,  in  a  measure,  palliates  his 
statement  that  "  as  a  final  spasmodic  attack  was  made  by  the 
rebels,  these  regiments  [two  'of  Nelson's]  fired  two  or  three 
volleys,  and  lost  three  men,  but  it  was  too  late  then  to  affect 
the  fortunes  of  the  day."  Thus  curtly  is  the  decisive  repulse 
of  the  enemy,  at  the  grand  climacteric  of  the  day's  fighting, 
disposed  of,  and  pronounced  an  affair  of  no  consequence. 
While  it  is  true  that  Ammen's  brigade  had  the  cooperation 
of  the  gunboats  and  certain  artillery,  and  even  of  a  few  of 
Grant's  infantry,  the  arrival  of  that  command  was  a  most  im 
portant  circumstance  in  the  condition  that  affairs  had  fallen 
into  on  the  left.  Aside  from  the  effect  produced  upon  the 
enemy  by  the  steady  and  well-delivered  volleys  of  Grose's 
men,  the  moral  effect  of  the  appearance  of  fresh  troops,  eager, 
confident,  and  in  perfect  subordination,  was  of  incalculable 
advantage  in  re-inspiriting  Grant's  worn  and  beaten  soldiers. 

The  remarkably  small  loss  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana, 
which  is  not  understated  in  the  extract  above  given,  is  attri- 


260  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

butable  to  its  judicious  posting  by  Colonel  Ammen,  under  the 
personal  direction  of  General  Buell.  In  the  excitement  of  bat 
tle,  as  every  novice  in  military  affairs  well  knows,  troops  nearly 
always  fire  too  high,  and  new  ones  invariably  do  so.  Instead 
of  being  pushed  forward  to  the  crest  of  the  slope  overlooking 
the  ravine,  which,  to  an  inexperienced  soldier,  would  have 
seemed  the  better  position,  because  a  more  commanding  one, 
the  Thirty-sixth  was  halted  some  distance  before  reaching  it, 
the  result  of  which  was  that,  while  the  men,  firing  slightly  up 
ward,  had  the  enemy  in  beautiful  range,  they  were  almost 
unharmed  by  the  rebel  volleys  flying  wildly  over  their  heads. 
Handling  his  brigade  upon  the  same  principle  the  next  day, 
Colonel  Ammen  brought  it  through,  notwithstanding  the  ter 
rific  fire  repeatedly  concentrated  upon  it,  with  an  additional  loss 
in  killed  of  only  twelve  men. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  was  thrown  forward  as  quickly  as  possible 
to  the  support  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  the  men  rushing 
up  through  the  woods  with  an  exultant  cheer  that,  for  a  mo 
ment,  drowned  the  noise  of  battle.  Taking  off  his  hat,  and 
his  features  all  aglow  with  the  inspiration  of  the  occasion, 
General  Nelson  had  fired  a  couple  of  rousing  sentences  into 
the  eager  ranks  of  his  favorite  regiment,  and  led  the  way  him 
self.  Says  a  staff  officer  of  the  Tenth  Brigade:  "I  doubt 
whether,  on  any  battle-field  during  the  war,  any  set  of  men 
ever  formed  under  just  such  circumstances  as  the  Sixth  Ohio 
did  at  Shiloh.  I  shall  never  forget  the  scene.  More  than 
half  of  our  artillery  was  gone,  our  entire  force  driven  into 
twelve  or  fifteen  acres  of  ground,  a  thousand  wagons  and  nearly 
all  the  tents  captured,  the  enemy  pressing  forward  almost  in 
sight;  batteries  and  musketry  in  front,  and  a  cross-fire  of  can-* 
non  from  above,  and  ten  thousand  panic-stricken  men  of  our 
own  fled  out  of  the  fight,  hailing  the  troops  just  arriving  with 


SHILOH.  261 

such  cries  as,  'We're  whipped !'  '  The  fight  is  lost!'  'We're 
cut  to  pieces ! '  '  It  9s  no  use  to  form  ! '  '  They  're  driving  us 
into  the  river ! '  etc.  In  this  terrible  extremity  the  regiment 
fell  quickly  and  orderly  into  line,  and,  at  the  word,  moved 
gallantly  forward.  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  riding 
my  iron-gray  close  up  to  the  lines,  and  crying  out,  '  Bully  for 
the  Sixth  Ohio  ! ' '  The  regiment  was  halted  a  short  distance 
in  rear  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  the  firing  having  materi 
ally  slackened;  in  a  few  minutes  it  ceased  entirely.  Within 
the  next  half-hour  the  deepening  darkness,  setting  at  rest  the 
question  of  further  fighting  for  that  day,  had  decided  the  issue 
of  the  struggle:  night  and  Blucher  both  had  come. 

Where,  meanwhile,  wTas  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio?  Imme 
diately  upon  reporting  to  General  Nelson  on  the  bluff,  and  in 
dread  lest  his  regiments,  in  the  universal  confusion  and  uproar, 
might  become  separated,  Colonel  Ammen  sent  one  of  his  aids, 
Lieutenant  Wheeler,  down  to  the  river,  to  guide  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jones  to  the  position  that  had  been  assigned  the  bri 
gade.  The  fighting  was  over  by  the  time  Lieutenant  Wheeler 
returned.  He  reported  that  the  boat  containing  the  Twenty- 
fourth  had  been  obliged  to  back  off  just  at  the  moment  of 
rounding  to,  its  captain  fearing  that  it  would  be  swamped  by 
a  rush  of  the  cowards  from  the  shore ;  and  the  regiment  had 
disembarked  at  the  lower  landing,  one-fourth  of  a  mile  down 
the  river.  Apprehending  danger  on  the  right,  General  Grant 
in  person  ordered  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jones  to  reenforce  the 
lines  in  that  quarter.  Colonel  Ammen,  however,  succeeded  in 
maintaining  communication  with  it  by  messengers,  and,  during 
the  night,  in  having  it  ordered  back  to  the  brigade,  in  rejoin 
ing  which  it  narrowly  escaped  being  fired  into  by  a  green  reg 
iment  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

General  Grant  did  not  again  make  his  appearance  upon  the 


262  %  /        THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

left  until  after  Tuesday  morning ;  but  soon  after  dark,  on 
Sunday  evening,  Buell  and  Nelson  rode  out  thither  in  com 
pany,  notified  Colonel  Ammen  that  the  Tenth  Brigade  would 
hold  the  left  of  the  line  of  battle  next  day,  and  directed  him 
to  have  his  men  in  readiness  to  move  forward  and  attack  the 
enemy  as  soon  as  it  should  be  light  enough  to  see.  Both  ex 
pressed  great  embarrassment  from  the  meagerness  of  their  in 
formation  concerning  the  roads  and  the  topography  of  the 
battle-field,  no  less  than  from  their  ignorance  of  the  enemy's 
movements,  which  the  darkness  screened  most  perfectly. 
Pickets'  had  been  posted  at  night-fall,  and  about  ten  o'clock, 
Companies  A  and  F,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  were  ordered  out  to 
reconnoiter  the  ground  in  advance,  etc.,  but  with  instructions 
not  to  fire  under  any  circumstances,  for  fear  of  provoking  a 
night  attack.  In  the  performance  of  this  peculiarly  delicate 
and  dangerous  service,  Company  F  lost  one  of  its  best  men, 
private  William  Brocksmith,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
died  at  dawn  next  day. 

Before  midnight,  Colonel  Ammen  had  formed  his  line  of 
battle,  as  well  as  it  could  be  done  in  the  darkness,  about  two 
hundred  yards  in  advance  of  the  original  position  of  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana,  as  follows:  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  on  the  left, 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio  on  the  right,  and  Sixth  Ohio  in  the 
center.  Supperless,  save  for  the  "  hard-tack"  they  had  munched 
as  they  sat  or  stood  at  "rest,"  and  most  of  them  entirely 
destitute  of  covering,  the  men  lay  upon  their  arms,  waiting 
for  daylight.  A  hard  thunder-storm  came  up  about  one  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  drenched  them  to  the  skin.  At  regular 
intervals,  first  of  ten  minutes  and  then  of  fifteen,  the  gunboats 
continued  firing  their  eight-inch  shells  over  the  tree-tops  into 
the  rebel  camps.  Amid  such  surroundings,  but  little  sleep  was 
got  that  night  by  the  men  of  the  Fourth  Division,  the  last  of 


SHILOH.  263 

whom  crossed  the  river  about  seven  o'clock.  General  Kelson, 
though  faring  no  better  than  they  did,  was  in  grand  spirits, 
and  impatient  for  daylight.  "  Send  me  a  bottle  of  wine  and 
some  cigars/'  he  said  to  his  friend,  Lieutenant  Gwin,  of  the 
gunboat  Tyler ;  "  I  will  show  you  some  man-of-war  fighting 
to-morrow." 

During  the  night,  Crittenden's  division  arrived  on  boats 
from  Savanna,  and  was  put  into  position  by  General  Buell  on 
Nelson's  right.  McCook's  foremost  brigade  came  up  about 
daylight,  and  his  last  about  eleven  o'clock,  Monday  forenoon, 
the  division  forming  next  on  the  right  of  Crittenden's.  Lewis 
Wallace's  division  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  which  reached 
the  battle-field  from  Crump's  Landing  soon  after  dark,  took 
position  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  line.  These  four 
divisions  next  day  covered  almost  the  entire  front,  and  with 
the  help  of  from  five  to  eight  thousand  gallant  soldiers  from 
Grant's  previously  driven  forces,  they  rolled  back  the  tide  of 
battle,  and  won  decisive  victory. 

Day  was  just  beginning  to  break  through  the  haze  and  gloom 
of  Monday  morning,  April  7th,  when  Nelson's  men  were  quietly 
roused,  and  a  regular  line  of  skirmishers  having  been  thrown 
out — consisting,  in  the  Tenth  Brigade,  of  Companies  A  and  F, 
Sixth  Ohio,  Companies  B  and  C,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  and  two 
companies  from  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio — the  whole  division, 
a  few  minutes  after  five  o'clock,  advanced  in  line  of  battle, 
without  either  artillery  or  reserves.  The  skirmishers  soon  met 
the  enemy's  pickets,  driving  them  with  ease  through  Hurlbut's 
camps,  where  the  tents  were  standing  uninjured,  and  for  a  con 
siderable  distance  beyond ;  and  the  division  had  gained  about 
one  mile  of  ground,  when,  at  six  o'clock,  it  was  halted  by  com 
mand  of  General  Buell,  in  order  to  allow  Crittenden  to  come 
up  and  take  his  place  upon  its  right.  In  happy  ignorance  of 


264  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Buell's  arrival,  Beauregard  had  retired  to  rest  on  Sunday  even 
ing,  elated  with  the  prospect  of  capturing  or  destroying  Grant's 
shattered  forces  on  the  following  day.  Nelson's  early  and  im 
petuous  attack  undeceived  him,  for  in  it  he  recognized  the  pres 
ence  of  BuelPs  dreaded  reinforcements,  and  the  initiative  of  a 
conflict  widely  differing  in  its  conditions  from  the  fighting  of 
the  day  before.* 

* Beauregard' s  official  report  says:  "I  accordingly  established  my 
head-quarters  at  the  church  at  Shiloh,  in  the  enemy's  encampment,  with 
Major-General  Bragg,  and  directed  our  troops  to  sleep  on  their  arms,  in 
such  positions,  in  advance  and  rear,  as  corps  commanders  should  deter 
mine,  hoping,  from  news  received  by  a  special  dispatch,  that  delays  had 
been  encountered  by  General  Buell  in  his  march  from  Columbia,  and  that 
his  main  forces,  therefore,  could  not  reach  the  field  of  battle  in  time  to 
save  General  Grant's  shattered,  fugitive  forces  from  capture  or  destruction 

on  the  following  day About  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 

7th  of  April,  however,  a  hot  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  opened  from  the 
enemy's  quarter  on  our  advanced  line,  assured  me  of  the  junction  of  his 
forces,  and  soon  the  battle  raged  with  a  fury  which  satisfied  me  I  was 
attacked  by  a  largely  superior  force." 

From  the  fact  that  the  rebels  "  did  not  attack  on  Monday,  although  they 
were  ignorant  of  Buell's  arrival,"  Badeau  infers  such  an  exhaustion 
upon  their  part  as  would  have  enabled  Grant  to  retrieve  the  disasters  of 
Sunday  without  any  assistance  from  Buell ;  but  all  the  pith  is  taken 
out  of  this  argument  when  we  consider  that  it  would  have  been  necessary 
for  Beauregard  to  attack  before  daylight,  in  order  to  have  anticipated 
Buell's  assault  upon  him.  Another  statement  which  Badeau  makes  in 
connection  with  the  foregoing,  merits  examination.  He  says:  "Grant 
gave  his  orders  [on  Sunday  afternoon]  to  renew  the  fight  before  he  was 
aware  that  the  long-looked-for  reinforcements  had  come."  It  is  possible 
that  Sherman,  who  had  comparatively  easy  work  after  2  P.  M.,  did 
receive  such  orders  before  Nelson  actually  arrived,  but  it  was  not  until 
Buell  had  promised  Grant  to  have  three  divisions  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio 
in  Monday's  fight;  and  at  that  moment,  Nelson's  division,  if  not  at  the 
river's  bank,  must  have  been  almost  in  sight  across  the  Tennessee.  Be- 


SHILOH.  265 

During  the  half-hour's  halt  of  Nelson's  division,  the  skir 
mish  lines  of  both  combatants  were  strengthened,  Companies  B 
and  C  constituting  the  additional  detail  from  the  Sixth  Ohio. 
Notwithstanding  the  increased  resistance  which  they  encoun 
tered  when  the  division  again  advanced,  Nelson's  skirmishers 
promptly  forced  those  of  the  enemy  back  upon  the  main  body, 
and  the  action  then  became  general.  For  the  next  eight  or  nine 
hours,  there  was  scarcely  a  moment's  intermission  in  the  roar 
of  battle  that  surged  back  and  forth  along  the  contending  lines. 
The  part  which  the  Fourth  Division  sustained  in  the  conflict 
is  graphically  described  in  the  official  reports  appended  to  this 
chapter.  More  than  once  the  command  was  forced  to  give  ground 
under  pressure  of  a  heavy  rebel  concentration  in  its  front,  never, 
however,  without  speedily  recovering  it  again,  writh  the  assist 
ance,  in  one  instance,  of  the  Nineteenth  Ohio,  from  Critten- 
den's  division,  and  at  other  times  of  the  Second  Iowa,  Fifteenth 
Illinois,  and  other  fragments  of  regiments  from  Grant's  scat 
tered  forces.  While  all  these  troops  fought  well,  the  aid  that 
was  welcome  most  of  all  came  from  the  regular  batteries  of 
Mendenhall  and  Terrill,  the  former  belonging  to  Crittenden's 
division  and  the  latter  to  McCook's.  TerrilFs  opportune  ar 
rival  undoubtedly  decided  an  important  phase  of  the  engage 
ment.  A  terrific  fire  of  both  artillery  and  musketry  had  been 
brought  to  bear  upon  Nelson,  whose  lines  began  to  yield  and 

tween  twelve  and  one  o'clock,  while  on  his  way  up  the  river,  Buell  received 
a  note  from  Grant,  in  which  the  latter  estimated  the  enemy's  strength  at 
"over  one  hundred  thousand  men."  (See  Badeau's  Life  of  Grant.)  It  is 
absurd  to  suppose  that,  with  his  fearfully  weakened  and  disorganized  com 
mand,  which  originally  numbered  scarcely  forty  thousand  effectives  (in 
cluding  Lew.  Wallace's  division),  Grant  would  have  been  sufficiently 
stupid  or  foolhardy  to  attack  such  vastly  superior  numbers,  ably  com 
manded  and  flushed  with  victory,  as  he  bitterly  knew  they  were. 


266  THE   STORY    OF   A    KEGIMENT. 

break,  in  spite  of  the  strenuous  exertions  of  the  officers;  for 
that  tempest  of  shot  and  shell  was  more  than  flesh  and  blood 
could  stand.  At  this  critical  juncture,  Terrill,  just  up  from 
Savanna,  dashed  into  action  within  less  than  rifle  range  of  the 
rebel  battery,  which  was  stationed  beyond  the  orchard  that 
every  survivor  of  Ammen's  brigade  so  well  remembers.  His 
second  shot  blew  up  a  rebel  caisson,  a  few  more  shells  silenced 
the  battery,  and  within  twenty  minutes  from  his  first  appear 
ance,  the  whole  aspect  of  the  battle  on  the  left  was  changed. 
TerrilPs  battery  fought  on  Nelson's  front  until  the  close  of  the 
engagement,  most  gallantly  throughout. 

The  fortitude  of  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  severely  tried  by 
the  enemy's  repeated  attempts  to  turn  the  Union  left,  particu 
larly  at  the  time  of  TerrilPs  arrival,  and  again  about  eleven 
o'clock;  but  the  trained  skill  and  imperturbable  coolness  of 
Colonel  Ammen,  and  the  discipline  and  steady  courage  of  the 
troops,  under  brave  and  competent  leadership  in  each  regi 
ment,  carried  it  through  the  fight  with  marked  distinction, 
and  probably  with  greater  economy  of  life,  considering  the 
work  accomplished,  than  characterized  the  operations  of  any 
other  brigade  on  the  field.  During  the  two  hours  between 
eleven  and  one  o'clock,  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  remained 
under  a  fire  so  murderous  that  it  must  have  been  destroyed 
but  for  the  advantageous  posting  of  the  regiment  behind  down- 
thrown  fences  and  two  or  three  log-cabins  on  the  edge  of  the 
orchard  above  referred  to,  and  for  the  protection  afforded  it  by 
a  gully  on  the  left  of  the  Hamburg  road.  Most  of  this  time  the 
line  was  less  than  five  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  rebels, 
who  occupied  a  wooded  knoll  beyond  the  orchard.  Colonel 
Grose  led  his  regiment  with  absolutely  reckless  bravery;  his 
horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  he  afterward  received  a  painful 
wound  in  the  shoulder,  which,  however,  did  not  disqualify  him 


SHILOH.  267 

for  command.  The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jones,  fought  on  the  right  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indi 
ana,  under  nearly  similar  circumstances. 

Early  in  the  day,  General  Nelson  designated  the  Sixth  Ohio 
as  a  reserve.  Between  eight  and  nine  o'clock,  at  which  time 
the  enemy  was  bringing  a  tremendous  pressure  to  bear  upon 
Bruce  and  Hazen,  on  Am  men's  right,  it  was  ordered  into  po 
sition  to  take  the  rebels  in  flank,  should  they  execute  their 
threatened  charge.  Under  a  heavy  fire,  the  regiment  accord 
ingly  "  changed  front  forward  on  first  company  "  with  beauti 
ful  precision,  such  as  won  for  it  many  encomiums  then  and 
subsequently.  The  danger  on  the  right  having  passed  away, 
the  battalion  was  restored  to  its  original  position  by  a  "  change 
perpendicularly  to  the  rear,"  and  was  soon  afterward  ordered 
to  the  support  of  TerrilPs  battery,  where  it  remained  for  nearly 
three  hours,  the  men  lying  flat  upon  the  ground,  wrhile  storms 
of  shot  and  shrapnel  flew  over  them.  Here  one  man  was 
wounded,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  was  struck  in  the 
arm  by  a  spent  ball.  The  few  remaining  casualties  occurred 
among  the  skirmishers.  At  the  critical  hour  of  eleven  o'clock, 
when  Terrill  was  suffering  fearfully,  and  his  safety  seemed  im 
periled,  General  Nelson  rode  up  to  the  Sixth  Ohio :  "  Colonel 
Anderson,"  said  he,  "I  have  conferred  upon  your  regiment 
the  honor  of  defending  this  battery,  the  best  in  the  service.  It 
must  not  be  taken!"  Says  an  officer,  writing  home  afterward, 
"  I  thought  I  could  see  those  same  words  written  on  the  face 
of  every  man  in  the  line."  By  twelve  o'clock,  Terrill  had  lost 
so  heavily  that  he  could  no  longer  man  all  his  guns.  In  this 
emergency,  Nelson  called  for  volunteers  from  the  Sixth  Ohio. 
Company  A  had  been  exercised  in  artillery  drill  at  Beverly, 
but  that  was  more  than  seven  months  before,  and  the  men  were 
wholly  out  of  practice;  nevertheless,  they  responded  eagerly. 


268  THE   STORY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Captain  Ten-ill,  himself  the  highest  type  of  a  true  and  chival 
rous  nature,  did  not  forget  the  service  which  the  Sixth  Ohio 
rendered  him  at  Shiloh.  The  following  letter,  in  his  own 
handwriting,  was  only  one  among  many  other  grateful  recog 
nitions  of  it : 

BATTLE-FIELD  OF  SHILOH,  NEAR  PITTSBURG  LANDING,    } 
April  10th,  1862.  } 

CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
General  commanding  the  Fourth  Division  to  the  names  of  the 
privates  of  Captain  Westcott's  company,  "A,"  Sixth  Ohio  Volun 
teers,  who  came  forward  first  to  man  my  guns,  when  called  upon. 
Their  names  are  as  follows: 

H.  Petty,  James  Moore,  II.  Herman, 

R.  G.  Delaney,  B.  P.  Critchell,          H.  Walter  Wilson, 

J.  A.  Cushing,  K.  N.  Cowing,  C.  Roth, 

W.  W.  Paddock. 
I  am,  sir,  etc., 

WM.  R.  TERRILL, 
Captain  Fifth  Artillery,  and  Chief  of  Art'y,  /Second  Division. 

CAPTAIN  J.  M.  KENDRICK,  A.  A.  G.,         j 
HEAD-QUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION.    J 

This  letter  was  transmitted  to  the  head-quarters  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  with  the  following  indorsement  by  General  Nelson,  in  his 
own  handwriting:  "I  wish  Colonel  Anderson  to  read  this 
letter  and  the  names  of  the  soldiers  mentioned  therein,  on 
dress  parade.  Their  gallantry  is  only  \vhat  I  expected  from 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  is  illustrative  of  the  good  conduct  of  that 
regiment  on  all  occasions." 

It  was  an  interesting  circumstance  to  many  of  the  troops 
thus  complimented,  that  Lieutenant  Israel  Lucllow,  of  TerrilPs 
battery,  was  originally  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  having 
been  discharged  from  Company  A;  to  accept  promotion  in  the 


SHILOH.  2G9 

regular  army,  a  few  days  before  the  regiment  took  the  field. 
Commanding  his  section  with  great  efficiency  and  self-posses 
sion,  Lieutenant  Ludlow's  tall  figure  and  ringing  tones  of  com 
mand  made  him  a  conspicuous  actor  in  the  struggle  on  the 
left. 

About  1  P.  M.,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  ordered  into  place  in 
the  line  of  battle,  and  took  part  soon  afterward  in  the  final 
charge  of  the  division,  led  by  General  Nelson  in  person,  which 
drove  the  rebels  out  of  the  old  camp  of  Stuart's  brigade  (of 
Sherman's  division)  in  precipitate  retreat  along  the  "  Bark 
Road"  to  Corinth.  Upon  the  right  the  battle  was  still  raging, 
but  the  firing  soon  began  to  slacken  in  that  direction  also,  and 
by  four  o'clock  it  had  died  entirely  away.  Passing  through 
Stuart's  camp,  which  was  in  much  worse  condition  than  Hurl- 
but's,  the  Fourth  Division  moved  out  the  Hamburg  road  to 
the  vicinity  of  the  ford  over  Lick  Creek,  where  the  jaded 
troops  went  into  bivouac  and  slept  upon  their  arms  in  a  cold 
rain  till  morning.  At  3  A.  M.,  they  were  roused  to  make 
ready  for  any  movement  that  the  report  of  scouts  might  ren 
der  advisable.  It  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  rebels  were 
still  retreating,  whereupon  Ammen's  brigade  returned  to  Stu 
art's  camps,  and  heavy  details  began  the  work  of  burying  the 
dead  and  clearing  away  the  debris  of  battle.  In  all,  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  rebels  were  buried  along  the  front  of  the 
Tenth  Brigade. 

The  casualties  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  were 
as  follows: 

Company  A. — Private  James  B.  Fairchild,  wounded. 
"        B.         "         John  Logue,  missing. 
"        C.         "         William  Boyd,  wounded. 
"        D.        "         George  Richarter,  wounded. 


270  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Company  F. — Private  William  Brocksmith,  killed,   and  Corporal 

Frederick  Finer,  wounded. 
"         I.          "          Heinrich  Nortman,  killed. 

Private  Nortman  was  one  of  the  guards  detailed  to  remain 
at  Savanna  in  charge  of  the  baggage,  but  the  brave  fellow 
pleaded  so  hard  to  go  to  the  battle-field  that  permission  was 
at  last  given  him  to  do  so.  He-  came  up  on  a  transport  dur 
ing  Sunday  night,  and  the  next  forenoon  was  instantly  killed 
while  skirmishing  at  the  extreme  front. 

GENERAL  BUELL'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT.     (EXTRACTS.) 

HEAD-QUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  OHIO,  ) 

FIELD  OF  SHILOH,  April  15,  1862. 1 

Captain  N.  H.  McLain,  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  Department  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  : 

SIR  :  The  rear  divisions  of  the  army  under  my  command,  which 
had  been  delayed  a  considerable  time  in  rebuilding  the  Duck  River 
bridge,  left  Columbia  on  the  second  instant.  I  left  the  evening 
of  that  day,  and  arrived  at  Savanna  on  the  evening  of  the  fifth. 
General  Nelson,  with  his  division,  which  formed  the  advance,  ar 
rived  the  same  day.  The  other  divisions  marched  with  intervals 
of  about  six  miles.  On  the  morning  of  the  sixth,  firing  of  mus 
ketry  and  cannon  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  this  place.  Ap 
prehending  that  a  serious  engagement  had  commenced,  I  went  to 
General  Grant's  head-quarters  to  get  information  as  to  the  means 
of  reaching  the  battle-field  with  the  division  that  had  arrived.  At 
the  same  time  orders  were  dispatched  to  the  divisions  in  rear  to 
leave  their  trains,  and  push  forward  by  forced  marches.  I  learned 
that  General  Grant  had  just  started,  leaving  orders  for  General 
Nelson  to  march  to  the  river  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing,  to  be 
ferried  across.  An  examination  of  the  road  up  the  river  discov 
ered  it  to  be  impracticable  for  artillery,  and  General  Nelson  was 
directed  to  leave  his,  to  be  carried  forward  by  steamer. 


SHILOH.  271 

The  impression  existed  at  Savanna  that  the  firing  was  merely  an 
affair  of  outposts,  the  same  thing  having  occurred  on  two  or  three 
previous  days;  but,  as  it  continued,  I  determined  to  go  to  the 
scene  of  action,  and  accordingly  started  with  my  chief  of  staff, 
Colonel  Fry,  on  a  steamer,  which  I  ordered  to  get  under  steam. 
As  we  proceeded  up  the  river,  groups  of  soldiers  were  seen  upon 
the  west  bank,  and  it  soon  became  evident  that  they  were  strag 
glers  from  the  engaged  army.  The  groups  increased  in  size  and 
frequency,  until,  as  we  approached  the  landing,  they  numbered 
whole  companies,  and  almost  regiments;  and  at  the  landing  the 
banks  swarmed  with  a  confused  mass  of  men  of  various  regiments. 
There  could  not  have  been  less  than  four  or  five  thousand.  Late 
in  the  day,  it  became  much  greater.  Finding  General  Grant  at 
the  landing,  I  requested  him  to  send  steamers  to  Savanna  to 
bring  up  General  Crittenden's  division,  which  had  arrived  during 
the  morning,  and  then  went  ashore  with  him.  The  throng  of  dis 
organized  and  demoralized  troops  was  increased  continually  by 
fresh  fugitives  from  the  battle,  which  steadily  drew  nearer  the 
landing,  and  with  these  were  intermingled  great  numbers  of 
teams,  all  striving  to  get  as  near  as  possible  to  the  river.  With 
few  exceptions,  all  efforts  to  form  the  troops,  and  move  them  for 
ward  to  the  fight,  utterly  failed. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy  had  made  such  progress  against  our 
troops,  that  his  artillery  and  musketry  began  to  play  into  the  vital 
spot  of  the  position,  and  some  persons  were  killed  on  the  bank,  at 
the  very  landing.  General  Nelson  arrived,  with  Colonel  Ammen's 
brigade,  at  this  opportune  moment.  It  was  immediately  posted 
to  meet  the  attack  at  that  point,  and  with  a  battery  of  artillery, 
which  happened  to  be  on  the  ground  and  was  brought  into  action, 
opened  fire  on  the  enemy  and  repulsed  him.  The  action  of  the 
gunboats  also  contributed  very  materially  to  that  result.  The  at 
tack  at  that  point  was  not  renewed.  Night  having  come  on,  the 
firing  ceased  on  both  sides.  In  the  meantime  the  remainder  of 
General  Nelson's  division  crossed,  and  General  Crittenden's  arrived 


272  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

from  Savanna  by  steamers.  After  examining  the  ground,  as  well 
as  was  possible  at  night,  in  front  of  the  line  on  which  General 
Grant's  troops  had  formed,  and  as  far  to  the  right  as  General  Sher 
man's  division,  I  directed  Nelson's  and  Crittenden's  divisions  to 
form  in  front  of  that  line,  and  move  forward  as  soon  as  it  was 
light  in  the  morning.  During  the  night  and  early  the  following 
morning,  Captain  Bartlett's  Ohio  battery,  and  Captains  Menden- 
hall's  and  Ten-ill's  regular  batteries  arrived.  General  McCook,  by 
a  forced  march,  arrived  at  Savanna  during  the  night  of  the  sixth, 
and  reached  the  field  of  battle  early  in  the  morning  of  the  seventh. 
I  knew  that  the  other  divisions  could  not  arrive  in  time  for  the 
action  that  day. 


Soon  after  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  General 
Nelson's  and  General  Crittenden's  divisions,  the  only  ones  yet  ar 
rived  on  the  ground,  moved  promptly  forward  to  meet  the  enemy. 
Nelson's  division,  marching  in  line  of  battle,  soon  came  upon  his 
pickets,  drove  them  in,  and  at  about  six  o'clock  received  the  fire  of 
his  artillery.  The  division  was  here  halted,  then  Mendenhall's 
battery  brought  into  action  to  reply,  while  Crittenden's  division 
was  being  put  into  position  on  the  right  of  Nelson's.  Bartlett's 
battery  was  posted  in  the  center  of  Crittenden's  division,  in  a  com 
manding  position,  opposite  which  the  enemy  was  discovered  to  be 
in  force.  By  this  time  McCook's  division  arrived  on  the  ground, 
and  was  immediately  formed  on  the  right  of  Crittenden's.  Skir 
mishers  wete  thrown  to  the  front,  and  a  strong  body  of  them  to 
guard  our  left  flank,  which,  though  somewhat  protected  by  rough 
grounds,  it  was  supposed  the  enemy  might  attempt  to  turn,  and,  in 

fact  did,  but  was  repulsed  with  great  loss The 

force  under  my  command  occupied  a  line  of  about  a  mile  and  a 
half.  In  front  of  Nelson's  division  was  an  open  field  partially 
screened  to  his  right  by  a  skirt  of  woods,  which  extended  through 
the  enemy's  line,  with  a  thick  undergrowth  in  front  of  the  left 


SHILOH.  273 

brigade  of  Crittenden's  division ;  then  an  open  field  in  front  of 
Crittenden's  right  and  McCook's  left,  and  in  front  of  McCook's 
right,  woods  again  with  a  dense  undergrowth.     The  ground,  mainly 
level  in  front  of  Nelson's  division,  formed  a  hollow  in  front  of  Crit 
tenden's,  and  fell  into  a  small  creek,  which  empties  into  Owl  Creek, 
in  front  of  McCook's.     What  I  afterward  learned  was  the  Ham 
burg  road,  which  crosses  Lick  Creek  a  mile  from  its  mouth,  passed 
perpendicularly  through  the  line  of  battle,  near  Nelson's  left.    On 
a  line  slightly  oblique  to  us,  and  beyond  the  open  field,  the  enemy 
was  formed,  with  a  battery  in  front  of  Nelson's  left;  a  battery  com 
manding  the  woods  in  front  of  Crittenden's  left,  and  flanking  the 
field  in  front  of  Nelson;  a  battery  commanding  the  same  woods 
and  the  field  in  front  of  Crittenden's  right  and  McCook's  left,  and 
a  battery  in  front  of  McCook's  right.     A  short  distance  in  the  rear 
of  the  enemy's  left,  on  high  open  ground,  were  the  encampments 
of  McClernand's  and  Sherman's  divisions,  which  the  enemy  held. 
...     .     .     .     .      The  obliquity  of  our  line,  upon  the  left  being 

thrown  forward,  brought  Nelson's  first  into  action,  and  it  became 
very  hotly  engaged  at  an  early  hour.  A  charge  of  the  Nineteenth 
Brigade,  from  Nelson's  right,  by  its  commander,  Colonel  Hazen, 
reached  the  enemy's  second  battery;  but  the  brigade  sustained  a 
heavy  loss  by  a  cross-fire  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  was  unable 
to  maintain  its  advantage  against  the  heavy  infantry  force  that 
came  forward  to  oppose  it.  The  enemy  recovered  the  battery,  and 
followed  up  his  advantage  by  throwing  a  heavy  force  of  infantry 
into  the  woods  in  front  of  Crittenden's  left.  The  left  brigade  of 
that  division,  Colonel  W.  S.  Smith  commanding,  advanced  into  the 
woods,  repulsed  the  enemy  handsomely,  and  took  several  prisoners. 
In  the  meantime,  Captain  Terrill's  battery,  which  had  just  landed, 
reached  the  field  and  was  advanced  into  action  near  the  left  of 
Nelson's  division,  which  was  very  heavily  pressed  by  the  great 
numbers  of  the  enemy.  It  belonged  properly  to  McCook's  divi 
sion.  It  took  position  near  the  Hamburg  road,  in  the  open  ground 
in  front  of  the  enemy's  right,  and  at  once  began  to  act  with  de» 
18 


274  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

cided  effect  upon  the  tide  of  battle  in  that  quarter.     The  enemy's 
right  battery  was  silenced. 

Ammen's  brigade,  which  was  on  the  left,  advanced  in  good  order 
upon  the  enemy's  right,  but  was  checked  for  some  time  by  his  en 
deavor  to  turn  our  left  flank,  and  by  his  strong  center  attack  in  front. 
Captain  Terrill,  who.  in  the  meantime,  had  taken  an  advanced  posi 
tion,  was  compelled  to  retire,  leaving  one  caisson,  of  which  every 
horse  was  killed  or  disabled.  It  was  very  soon  recovered.  Having 
been  reenforced  by  a  regiment  [the  Nineteenth  Ohio]  from  Gen 
eral  Boyle's  brigade  [of  Crittenden's  division],  Nelson's  division 
again  moved  forward,  and  forced  the  enemy  to  abandon  entirely 
his  position.  This  success  flanked  the  enemy  at  his  second  and 
third  batteries,  from  which  he  was  soon  driven,  with  the  loss  of 
several  pieces  of  artillery,  by  the  concentrated  fire  of  Terrill's  and 
Mendenhall's  batteries,  and  an  attack  from  Crittenden's  position  in 
front.  The  enemy  made  a  second  stand  some  eight  hundred  yards 
in  rear  of  this  position,  and  opened  fire  with  his  artillery.  Men 
denhall's  battery  was  moved  forward,  silenced  the  battery,  and  it 
was  captured  by  Crittenden's  division,  the  enemy  retreating  from  it. 

[After  giving  an  account  of  the  operations  of  General  McCook's 
division,  and  mentioning,  in  complimentary  terms,  Wagner's  bri 
gade,  of  General  T.  J.  Wood's  division,  which  continued  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy  for  about  a  mile,  General  Buell  proceeds :] 

The  pursuit  was  continued  no  further  that  day.  I  was  jnthout 
cavalry,  and  the  different  corps  had  become  a  good  deal  scattered 
in  a  pursuit  in  a  country  which  secreted  the  enemy's  movements, 
and  of  the  roads  of  which  I  knew  practically  nothing.  In  the  be 
ginning  of  the  pursuit,  thinking  that  the  enemy  had  retired  prin 
cipally  by  the  Hamburg  road,  I  had  ordered  Nelson's  division  to 
follow  as  far  as  Lick  Creek,  on  that  road,  from  which  I  afterward 
learned  the  direct  Corinth  road  was  separated  by  a  difficult  ravine, 
which  empties  into  Lick  Creek.  I  therefore  occupied  myself  with 
examining  the  ground,  and  getting  the  different  divisions  into  po- 


SHILOH.  275 

sition,  which  was  not  effected  until  some  time  after  dark 

There  were  no  idlers  in  the  battle  of  the  7th.  Every  portion  of 
the  army  did  its  work.  The  batteries  of  Captains  Terrill  and 
Mendenhall  were  splendidly  handled  and  served. 

[The  report  then  names  several  officers,  "  specially  commended 
to  the  favor  of  the  Government  for  their  distinguished  gallantry 
and  good  conduct,"  among  whom  are  the  following:  Brigadier- 
General  William  Nelson,  commanding  Fourth  Division;  Brigadier- 
General  T.  L.  Crittenden,  commanding  Fifth  Division;  Colonel 
Jacob  Ammen,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  commanding  Tenth  Brigade ; 
Colonel  W.  S.  Smith,  Thirteenth  Ohio,  commanding  Fourteenth 
Brigade;  Captain  W.  R.  Terrill,  Fifth  Artillery;  and  Captain 
John  Mendenhall,  Fourth  Artillery.] 

The  loss  of  the  force  under  my  command  is  two  hundred  and 
sixty-three  killed,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixteen  wounded, 
and  eighty-eight  missing.  Total,  two  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven.  The  trophies  are  twenty  pieces  of  artillery,  a  greater 
number  of  caissons,  and  a  considerable  number  of  small  arms.  Many 
of  the  cannon  were  recaptured  from  the  loss  of  the  previous  day. 
Several  stands  of  colors  were  also  recaptured. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  C.  BUELL, 

Major-General^  Commanding  Army  of  the  Ohio. 


GENERAL  NELSON'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION, 

FIELD  OF  BATTLE,  April  10,  1862. 

CAPTAIN  :  In  obedience  to  order,  I  have  to  report  that  the 
Fourth  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  under  my  command, 
left  Savanna,  by  order  of  General  Grant,  reiterated  in  person  by 
General  Buell,  at  1.30  P.  M.,  of  Sunday,  April  6th,  and  marched 
by  land  to  the  point  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing.  The  anxiety  of 


276  THE   STOKY   OF   A   KEGIMENT. 

the  men  to  take  part  in  the  battle  which  was  going  on  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  river,  enabled  me  to  achieve  the  distance,  notwithstand 
ing  the  dreadful  condition  of  the  road  over  a  lately-overflowed  bot 
tom,  in  four  hours.  At  five  o'clock,  the  head  of  my  column  marched 
up  the  bank  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  took  up  its  position  in  the 
road,  under  the  fire  of  the  rebel  artillery,  so  close  had  they  ap 
proached  the  landing.  I  found  a  semicircle  of  artillery,  totally 
unsupported  by  infantry,  whose  fire  was  the  only  check  to  the 
audacious  advance  of  the  enemy.  The  Sixth  Ohio  and  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  had  hardly  deployed  when  the  left  of  our  artillery 
was  completely  turned  by  the  enemy,  and  the  gunners  fled  from 
their  pieces.  The  gallantry  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  supported 
by  the  Sixth  Ohio,  under  the  able  conduct  of  Colonel  Ammen, 
commanding  the  Tenth  Brigade,  drove  back  the  enemy,  and  re 
stored  the  line  of  battle.  This  was  at  6.30  P.  M.,  and  soon  after 
the  enemy  withdrew,  owing,  I  suppose,  to  the  darkness. 

I  found  cowering  under  the  river  bank,  when  I  crossed,  from 
seven  to  ten  thousand  men,  frantic  with  fright  and  utterly  de 
moralized,  who  received  my  gallant  division  with  cries  of  "  we  're 
whipped,"  "cut  to  pieces,"  etc.  They  were  insensible  to  shame 
and  sarcasm,  for  I  tried  both  on  them,  and,  indignant  at  such  pol 
troonery,  I  asked  permission  to  open  fire  upon  the  knaves. 

By  7  P.  M.  the  infantry  of  my  division  was  all  across  the  river, 
and  took  up  their  position  as  follows :  Colonel  Ammen's  brigade 
—consisting  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Colonel  Grose;  Sixth  Ohio, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson ;  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Jones — took  post  on  the  left.  On  the  right  of  them,Bruce's 
brigade  was  posted,  consisting  of  the  First  Kentucky,  Colonel  Enyart ; 
Second  Kentucky,  Colonel  Sedgwick ;  Twentieth  Kentucky,  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Hanson.  On  the  right  of  Colonel  Bruce's  brigade,  the 
brigade  of  Colonel  Hazen  was  posted,  composed  of  the  Ninth  In 
diana,  Colonel  Moody;  Sixth  Kentucky,  Colonel  Whittaker  j  Forty- 
first  Ohio,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mygatt.  Heavy  pickets  were  imme 
diately  thrown  well  forward,  and  every  precaution  taken  to  prevent 


SHILOH.  277 

surprise  during  the  night.  These  dispositions  were  made  by  the 
direction  and  under  the  supervision  of  General  Buell,  who  gave  me 
orders  to  move  forward  and  attack  the  enemy  at  the  earliest  dawn. 
The  night  passed  away  without  serious  alarm.  The  men  lay  on 
their  arms. 

Lieutenant  Gwin,  of  the  navy,  commanding  the  gunboats  in 
the  river,  sent  to  me  and  asked  if  he  could  be  of  any  service.  I 
requested  that  he  would  throw  an  eight-inch  shell  into  the  camp 
of  the  enemy  every  ten  -minutes  during  the  night,  and  thus  pre 
vent  their  sleeping,  which  he  did  very  scientifically,  and,  accord 
ing  to  the  reports  of  the  prisoners,  to  their  infinite  annoyance. 

At  4  A.  M.  I  roused  up  the  men  quietly,  by  riding  along  the 
lines,  and  when  the  line  of  battle  was  dressed,  the  skirmishers 
•well  out  and  the  reserve  in  position,  I  sent  an  aid  to  the  General 
to  notify  him  that  I  was  ready  to  commence  the  action,  where 
upon  the  Fourth  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  in  perfect 
order,  as  if  on  drill,  moved  forward  toward  the  enemy.  At  5.30 
I  found  the  enemy,  and  the  action  began  with  vigor.  My  division 
drove  them  with  ease,  and  I  followed  them  up  rapidly,  when,  at 
6  A.  M.,  I  was  halted  by  commands  from  General  Buell,  I  having 
gone  further  forward  than  I  should  have  done,  my  right  flank 
being  exposed.  The  enemy  was  greatly  reenforced  in  front  of  me, 
and  at  7  A.  M.  my  advance,  which  had  been  resumed  by  order  of 
General  Buell,  was  checked.  At  7.30  my  division  began  to  give 
ground  slowly.  We  were  exposed  to  the  fire  of  two  of  the  enemy's 
batteries,  and  I  had  no  artillery.  You  are  aware  that,  owing  to 
the  want  of  transportation,  I  was  compelled  to  leave  three  bat 
teries  of  my  division  at  Savanna.  I  asked  for  artillery  to  support 
my  infantry.  General  Buell  sent  to  my  aid  the  battery  of  Captain 
Mendenhall,  of  the  regular  army,  belonging  to  General  Crittenden's 
division,  the  well-directed  fire  of  which  gave  my  division  refreshing 
relief.  After  8  A.  M.  the  firing  of  the  enemy  was  tremendous.  They 
had  again  been  largely  reenforced  on  this  point.  General  Buell, 
who  rode  along  the  line  at  this  time,  saw  for  himself  the  behavior 


278  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

/ 

of  the  Fourth  Division.    The  style  in  which  Colonel  Ammen  handled 

his  brigade  excited  my  admiration.  Colonel  Hazen,  commanding 
the  right  brigade  of  the  division  carried  it  into  action  and  main 
tained  it  there  most  gallantly.  The  heavy  loss  of  his  brigade  at 
tests  the  fierceness  of  the  conflict  at  this  point.  He  drove  the 
enemy,  captured  the  battery  that  so  distressed  us,  but  was  forced 
back  on  his  reserves. 

The  powerful  reinforcements  which  the  enemy  had  again  re 
ceived,  made  the  woodland  in  front  of  us  at  times  a  sheet  of 
flame,  and  compelled  me  at  9  A.  M.  again  to  ask  for  support. 
The  General  sent  to  my  aid  Captain  Ten-ill's  battery  of  regular 
artillery.  This  battery  was  a  host  within  itself.  It  consisted  of 
four  12-pounder  brass  guns,  and  two  10-pounder  Parrott  guns.  Its 
fire  was  terrific.  It  was  handled  superbly.  Where  Captain  Ten-ill 
turned  his  battery  silence  followed  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  Cap 
tains  Terrill  and  Mendenhall  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  their 
batteries  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the  Fourth  Division.  The 
Nineteenth  Ohio,  Colonel  Beatty,  attached  to  General  Crittenden's 
division,  also  came  to  my  support.  This  regiment  was  ably 
handled  and  rendered  efficient  service. 

At  1  P.  M.,  by  direction  of  General  Buell,  I  ordered  the  divis 
ion  to  move  with  arms  trailed,  at  "double  quick"  on  the  rising 
ground  in  front,  held  by  the  enemy,  which  the  latter  with  much 
promptness  abandoned  to  our  use.  The  firing  now  diminished 
much  along  the  front  of  the  division,  but  was  at  2  P.  M.  renewed 
on  the  right,  on  McCook's  and  Crittenden's  divisions,  with  great 
fury.  The  Fourth  Division  had  no  more  trouble  during  the  ac 
tion,  the  attacks  on  it  being  feeble  and  easily  repulsed.  They 
ceased  entirely  at  4  P.  M. 

I  desire  to  call  the  attention  of  the  General  commanding  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  to  the  distinguished  conduct  of  Colonel  Jacob 
Ammen,  of  the  Twenty -fourth  Ohio,  commanding  the  Tenth  Bri 
gade.  The  cool,  wary,  and  vigilant  manner  in  which  he  fought  his 
brigade,  protecting  all  the  while  the  left  flank  of  the  army,  gave 


SHILOH.  279 

me  a  profitable  lesson  in  the  science  of  battles.  To  Colonel  Ha- 
zen,  commanding  the  Nineteenth  Brigade,  I  beg  also  to  invite  the 
General's  attention.  The  gallantry  with  which  he  led  his  troops 
to  the  attack  was  most  conspicuous,  and  he  handled  them  ably. 
During  the  long  and  bloody  action,  the  fortitude  of  the  Fourth 
Division  was  severely  tried,  pressed,  as  it  was,  by  such  superior 
numbers,  but  it  maintained  itself  gloriously. 

I  refer  the  General  to  the  reports  of  the  brigade  commanders 
for  the  part  each  regiment  took  in  the  action,  reserving  to  myself 
only  to  say  that,  during  the  action,  I  rode  up  and  thanked  the  Ninth 
Indiana  for  its  gallantry,  and  that  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  Twentieth 
Kentucky  were  posted  by  to  cover  the  artillery.  This  important 
and  arduous  duty  they  performed  perfectly,  sustaining,  during  the 
greater  part  of  this  long  day,  with  the  coolness  of  veterans,  the  fire 
of  the  enemy,  without  being  permitted  to  return  it. 

The  loss  of  the  division,  I  regret  to  inform  you,  is  heavy.  It 
went  into  action  4,541  strong,  of  whom  6  oflicers  and  84  men  were 
killed;  33  officers  and  558  men  wounded  ;  and  58  enlisted  men  miss 
ing;  making  a  total  loss  of  739,  more  than  half  of  which  occurred 
in  Hazen's  brigade.  • 

I  would  recommend  to  your  attention  the  officers  of  my  staff, 
who  did  their  duty  well  on  the  field ;  they  are  Captain  J.  Mills 
Kendrick,  A.  A.  G. ;  Assistant  Surgeon  Irwin,  regular  army, 
medical  inspector;  Captain  Chandler,  A.  Q.  M.;  Lieutenant  Peck, 
Sixth  Ohio,  A.  C.  S. ;  Lieutenants  W.  P.  Anderson,  Sixth  Ohio, 
and  R.  Southgate,  Sixth  Ohio,  aids-de-camp ;  A.  Preston  Graves, 
Esq.,  volunteer  aid-de-camp;  H.  N.  Fisher,  volunteer  aid-de-camp; 
Lieutenant  B.  J.  Horton,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteers,  ordnance 
officer.  The  energy  of  Lieutenant  Horton,  in  bringing  up  ammu 
nition,  was  conspicuous. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

WILLIAM  NELSON, 

Brigadier- General  Volunteers,  commanding  Fourth  Division, 
CAPTAIN  J.  B.  FRY,  CHIEF  OF  STAFF. 


280  THE  STOEY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 


LETTERS  FROM  REV.  J.  MILLS  KENDRICK.* 

FORT  SCOTT,  KANSAS,  January  28,  1868. 

DEAR  SIR:  Your  letter  was  received  two  days  ago,  and  I  take 
great  pleasure  in  replying.  I  think  that  I  can  give  you  some  in 
formation  which  will  be  of  service.  An  extract  from  General 
Badeau's  book  recently  came  to  my  notice,  in  the  columns  of  the 
Cincinnati  Gazette,  and  it  occurred  to  me  that  perhaps  I  ought  to 
write  to  him,  giving  such  information  as  I  possess  concerning  the 
delay  which  he  charges  as  remissness  upon  General  Nelson,  in 
marching  from  Savanna  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  My  position  in 
the  army  was  that  of  assistant  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of 
captain ;  and  at  the  time  of  the  events  to  be  referred  to,  I  was 
serving  on  the  staff  of  General  Nelson. 

During  the  morning  of  Sunday,  April  6,  1862,  General  Nelson 
directed  me  to  take  his  cavalry  escort,  and  go  up  to  a  point  oppo 
site  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  ascertain  whether  a  passable  road  could 
be  found  for  the  division.  I  remember  he  complained  that  no  in 
formation  had  been  given,  or  could  be  given.  (I  do  not  recollect 
which  was  the  expression)  upon  this  point,  in  connection  with 
orders  which  he  had  received.  At  this  time  we  were  camped  a 
short  distance  back  of  Savanna.  The  very  indefinite  information 
which  could  be  obtained  from  the  citizens  of  the  place,  who  were 
not  inclined  to  assist  our  inquiries,  left  it  in  doubt  whether  the 
roads  up  the  river  were  at  all  passable.  My  instructions  were  to 
go  up  by  a  road  parallel  to  the  river,  at  a  short  distance  from  it, 
and  to  return  along  the  river's  bank.  These  directions  were  car 
ried  out  with  all  possible  dispatch,  and  we  were  at  the  head-quarters 
of  the  division,  upon  our  return,  by  twelve  o'clock,  having  killed 
several  horses  and  left  behind  a  number  of  men  in  our  haste  to  exe- 

*This  gentleman  (a  son  of  Professor  John  Kendrick,  of  Marietta,  O., 
College,  and  formerly  General  Nelson's  adjutant-general)  is  now  rector 
of  St.  Andrew's  Episcopal  Church,  Fort  Scott,  Kansas. 


SHILOH.  281 

cute  orders.  Our  report  was  that  the  river  road  was  entirely  im 
passable,  being  obstructed  by  swollen  streams,  but  that  the  other 
road  was  practicable,  except  for  artillery.  My  impression  is  that 
these  roads  led  through  a  marshy  country,  and  that  recent  rains 
had  been  rendering  our  progress  very  laborious  for  several  days. 
The  event  thus  justified  the  General's  precaution.  Had  we  moved 
by  the  river  road,  we  could  not  have  reached  the  landing  that 
night.  There  was  reason  to  fear  that  the  other  road  would  be 
found  in  the  same  condition,  and  had  we  started  on  it  with  our 
artillery  (which,  of  course,  General  Nelson  was  very  anxious  to 
take  with  him)  our  march  would  have  been  very  much  delayed. 
The  division  was  put  in  motion  immediately  upon  our  return,  and 
there  was  not  a  moment  lost  on  the  march  up  the  river,  as  there 
are  many  to  testify. 

I  can  not  say  exactly  at  what  time  in  the  morning  I  received 
my  orders,  nor  precisely  how  long  it  took  to  execute  them; 
nor  do  I  know  at  what  hour  General  Nelson  received  his  orders, 
nor  definitely  what  they  were.  No  papers  relating  to  this  matter, 
that  I  remember,  were  ever  filed  in  my  office.  I  can  not  say  whether 
General  Nelson  moved  under  orders  from  General  Grant  or  General 
Buell.  My  impression  is  that  there  was  an  expectation,  as  late  as 
the  time  that  I  left  camp  to  explore  the  roads,  that  transports 
might  be  sent  to  take  us  up  the  river,  and  I  know  there  was  such 
an  expectation  for  some  considerable  time  that  morning.  I  did 
not  happen  to  be  present  at  any  of  the  interviews  between  Generals 
Grant,  Buell,  and  Nelson. 

My  recollection  is  positive  as  to  the  facts  that,  upon  reaching 
the  point  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing,  no  transports  were  ready  to 
receive  us,  and  that  General  Nelson  had  almost  to  compel  the  cap 
tain  of  a  steamer  (who  pleaded  that  he  had  no  orders  to  that  effect) 
to  take  over  his  first  regiment,  Colonel  Grose's.  My  recollection  is 
very  distinct  in  regard  to  the  fact  that  the  distressing  question  with 
General  Nelson  all  that  Sunday  morning  was,  how  he  was  to  get 
his  division  up  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  Those  who  were  about  the 


282  THE   STOKY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

General  that  day  will  be  disposed  to  smile  at  tlie  charge  of  tardiness 
brought  against  him.  With  our  utmost  exertions,  we  could  not 
execute  his  orders  speedily  enough,  and  frequently  we  received  his 
rebukes  for  not  accomplishing  impossibilities. 

I  believe  that  I  have  answered  all  your  questions  as  far  as  I  can 
answer  them,  and  if  (it  is  possible  for  me  to  further  assist  you  in 
your  work,  you  can  certainly  command  my  services.  The  Sixth 
Ohio  was  a  favorite  regiment  with  General  Nelson,  and  was  always 
distinguished  for  its  soldierly  appearance  and  gallant  conduct. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  etc., 

J.  M.  KENDRICK. 


FORT  SCOTT,  KANSAS,  March  31,  1868. 

DEAR  SIR  :  .  .  .  I  have  looked  over  what  I  wrote  to  you  on 
the  28th  of  January,  and  do  not  think  that  any  of  my  statements 
ought  to  be  modified.  The  order  which  you  quote  in  your  letter 
of  February  10th,  as  given  by  General  Badeau  in  a  foot-note, 
I  had  never  before  seen.  The  statement  of  that  order,  that 
General  Nelson  could  easily  obtain  a  guide  in  the  village,  did 
not,  I  think,  turn  out  to  be  correct;  although,  at  this  distance  of 
time,  I  can  not,  of  course,  give  the  precise  authority  for  the  very 
strong  impression  I  have  that  efforts  to  obtain  reliable  information 
in  this  way  had  failed  before  the  order  was  given  to  examine  the 
roads.  General  Nelson  complained  very  bitterly  of  the  lack  of 
information  which  embarrassed  him,  and  it  is  most  likely  that  I 
had  it  from  him  that  reliable  information  could  not  be  obtained  in 
the  village.  No  guide  was  sent  with  me ;  I  was  left  to  find  my 
way  from  a  few  general  directions. 

The  charge  that  there  was  culpable  delay  on  the  part  of  Gen 
eral  Nelson  in  marching  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  is  so  utterly  opposed 
to  all  my  recollections  of  those  events,  that  it  seems  to  me  a  very 
great  injustice.  Since  it  has  come  to  my  knowledge  that  the  charge 
had  been  made  (and  my  first  knowledge  of  it  was  from  the  extract 


SHILOH.  283 

from  General  Badeau's  work,  in  the  Cincinnati  Gazette),  I  have 
often  reviewed  the  incidents  of  that  day,  and  can  recall  nothing 
which  suggests  even  a  suspicion  that  any  delay  was  intended  or 
desired.  Such  conduct  would  have  been  so  thoroughly  repugnant 
to  the  General's  sense  of  honor  and  duty,  and  so  inconsistent  with 
every  thing  else  that  I  know  of  him,  during  a  service  under  him, 
in  one  capacity  or  another,  of  nearly  a  year,  that  I  am  persuaded 
the  allegation  is  entirely  unfounded. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  etc., 

J.  M.  KENDRICK. 
GENERAL  BUELL'S  TESTIMONY. 

Since  the  foregoing  pages  were  stereotyped,  (in  fact,  on  the  very 
eve  of  putting  this  work  to  press,)  the  writer  has  had  the  gratifi 
cation  of  seeing  an  autograph  letter  from  General  Buell,  dated 
July  6,  1868,  in  which  occurs  the  following  emphatic  testimony: 
"With  reference  to  the  movement  of  the  Fourth  Division  to  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  on  the  6th  of  April  [1862],  it  may  be  positively 
asserted  that  there  was  substantial  and  ample  cause  for  whatever 
delay  occurred  in  starting.  Every  man  who  marched  under  the 
banners  of  that  splendid  division,  will  feel  that  there  was,  whether 
the  proofs  are  adduced  or  not;  and  any  attempt  to  cast  reproach 
upon  it  or  its  able  commander  in  that  particular,  will  be  regarded 
as  an  unworthy  contrivance.  The  war,  from  first  to  last,  brought 
forward  no  officer  more  deservedly  distinguished  than  General  Nel 
son  for  great  promptness  and  energy  in  the  discharge  of  duty, 
either  in  or  out  of  battle." 

[NOTE. — The  writer  was  at  great  pains  and  some  pecuniary  outlay  in 
the  endeavor  to  procure  copies  of  Colonel  Ammen's  and  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Anderson's  official  reports  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  but  without  success. 
Neither  of  those  officers  preserved  them,  and  they  are  probably  not  now 
in  existence,  save  among  the  files  of  the  War  Department,  which  (properly 
enough,  perhaps,)  are  not  accessible  to  any  one  unless  he  comes  provided 
with  the  "open  sesame"  of  political  influence  or  personal  favoritism. 
Captain  Phil.  F.  Wiggins  once  had  all  the  official  reports  of  the  Tenth 
Brigade  in  his  possession,  but  was  heedless  enough  to  lose  them.] 


284  THE  STOKY   OF  A   KEGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

THE    ADVANCE    UPON    CORINTH. 

(APRIL  8-MAY  24,  1862.) 

A  LTHOUGH  the  Sixth  Ohio  escaped  with  marvelously 
-*-*-  few  casualties  at  Shiloh,  Dr.  Stephens,  so  far  from  finding 
his  position  a  sinecure,  was  kept  hard  at  work  for  several  days, 
in  attending  the  wounded  of  other  commands,  especially  the 
surgical  cases,  and  for  his  faithfulness  and  efficiency  received  the 
warm  praise  of  his  superiors,  and  a  most  complimentary  men 
tion  in  the  official  report  of  Surgeon  Murray,  medical  director 
on  the  staif  of  General  Buell.  "  About  9  P.  M.,  on  the  even 
ing  that  we  crossed  the  river,"  says  Dr.  Stephens,*  "  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Anderson  ordered  me  to  take  charge  of  the  old 
log-house  on  the  top  of  the  bluff  [the  same  building,  as  it 
would  appear,  that  General  Grant  had  occupied  during  the  day 
as  head-quarters],  and  there  organize  our  regimental  hospital, 
which  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  place  made  as  comfort 
able  as  its  bare  walls  and  our  scanty  supplies  would  permit. 

*  Private  MS.  The  reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  Dr.  Stephens'  ac 
count  relates  to  a  period  of  the  war  when  the  medical  department  was  in 
a  very  imperfect  state  of  organization,  and  nine-tenths  of  the  practitioners 
in  the  field  were  totally  inexperienced  in  army  surgery.  More  than  this, 
the  conflict  was  precipitated  so  unexpectedly  upon  the  Union  forces  as  to 
preclude  any  adequate  preparation  for  itB  emergencies. 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  285 

About  eleven  o'clock  my  attention  was  called  to  some  general 
and  a  staff  officer  seated  close  together  on  the  top  of  two  empty 
barrels  that  stood  in  the  middle  of  one  of  the  rooms.  I  thought 
it  a  strange  place  for  them,  and  was  still  more  surprised  a  few 
minutes  afterward  to  hear  the  staff  officer  address  his  com 
panion  as  General  Grant.  Both  officers  appeared  to  be  much 
dejected,  (as  was  my  impression  at  the  time,)  very  little  con 
versation,  however,  being  carried  on  between  them.  Several 
times  during  the  night,  guns  and  pistols  were  fired  close  around 
the  building  by  some  of  the  demoralized  troops  at  the  landing. 
This  appeared  to  annoy  the  General  greatly,  and  once  or  twice 
he  left  his  seat  on  the  barrel,  and,  going  to  the  door,  cried  at 
the  top  of  his  voice,  '  Stop  that  firing ! '  Once,  on  returning 
to  his  companion,  he  said,  '  The  cowards !  if  they  were  to  get 
their  deserts,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  in  the  morning  would 
be  to  take  a  cannon  and  shell  them  out  from  there.'  The  pair 
occupied  their  positions  on  top  of  the  barrels,  '  grand,  gloomy, 
and  peculiar/  until  daylight  of  Monday  morning,  when  they 
disappeared  as  mysteriously  as  they  came. 

"  The  battle  was  renewed  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to 
see,  and  the  vicinity  of  our  old  house  becoming  crowded  with 
wounded  men,  Surgeon  Hewitt,  of  General  Grant's  staff,  rode  up 
and  ordered  the  building  converted  into  a  general  hospital,  for 
the  reception  of  the  wounded  without  reference  to  the  commands 
to  which  they  might  belong.  He  also  directed  me  to  remain  in 
charge  of  it,  and  stated  that  he  would  send  thither  a  number 
of  surgeons,  with  needed  supplies,  etc.,  none  of  which  reached 
us,  however,  until  next  day.  On  Monday  evening  Surgeon 
Murray,  General  Buell's  medical  director,  called  at  the  hos 
pital,  and,  by  his  kind  encouragement  and  deep  sympathy  for 
the  wounded,  did  much  to  cheer  the  hearts  of  all.  He  at  once 
set  out  to  seek  assistance,  but,  although  he  soon  had  several 


286  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

more  surgeons  on  the  ground,  most  of  them  seemed  to  be  seized 
with  'a  masterly  inactivity.'  They  would  look  on  for  a 
short  time,  or,  perhaps,  dress  two  or  three  of  the  slightly 
wounded,  and  then  suddenly  take  their  leave.  Thus,  during  my 
first  day's  experience  in  a  great  battle,  I  had  all  the  capital 
operations  to  perform  alone,  my  only  assistants  being  Hospital 
Steward  Charles  E.  Lewis,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  two  nurses. 
By  2  P.  M.,  every  part  of  the  old  house  was  occupied  with 
prostrate  forms,  and  yet  the  door  was  surrounded  with  ambu 
lances  loaded  with  wounded  men.  To  make  room  for  these 
I  removed  the  bodies  of  such  as  had  already  died,  and  laid 
them  in  tiers  outside  the  building. 

"  Mr.  Lewis,  the  nurses,  and  myself  were  up  all  of  Monday 
night,  doing  what  we  could  to  alleviate  the  suiferings  of  our 
patients,  and  early  next  morning  were  gladdened  by  the  re 
appearance  of  Surgeon  Murray,  through  whose  exertions  we 
soon  had  to  our  assistance  Surgeons  Gay  and  Worth,  and  also 
five  men  as  cooks  and  nurses.  By  his  orders,  the  ambulances 
that  had  been  sent  in  during  the  night,  loaded  with  wounded, 
were  ordered  to  the  river  bank  where  the  sufferers  were  trans 
ferred  as  carefully  as  possible  to  a  steamboat  that  he  had  pre 
pared  for  them.  As  nine-tenths  of  the  wounded  were  yet  on 
the  field,  however,  Dr.  Murray  next  directed  his  efforts  toward 
securing  some  means  of  shelter  for  them,  when  they,  should  be 
brought  back,  and  by  noon  had  two  or  three  tents  pitched 
close  to  our  hut.  They  were  quickly  filled,  and  then  we  were 
obliged  to  place  the  men  on  the  bare  ground,  without  shelter 
of  any  kind.  With  his  utmost  authority,  Dr.  Murray  could 
not  procure  enough  tents  for  all  our  wounded,  many  of  whom, 
in  consequence,  had  to  lie  on  the  wet  ground  exposed  to  a 
drizzling  rain  throughout  that  day  and  night,  some  of  them 
with  not  even  a  blanket  to  cover  their  stiffening  forms.  By 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON    CORINTH.  287 

Wednesday  the  scene  was  sickening  indeed.  The  mangled 
bodies  of  the  dead  and  dying,  the  amputated  limbs,  the  frag 
ments  of  flesh,  and  the  puddles  of  blood  and  muddy  water,  as 
the  sufferers  lay  scattered  around  the  old  house,  sent  up  a  stench 
that  was  absolutely  appalling.  Yet  we  did  not  succeed  in  get 
ting  a  detail  of  men  sufficient  to  bury  the  dead  until  Friday, 
when  General  Grant  caused  to  be  sent  to  us  a  company  of  an 
Illinois  regiment,  and  by  night  we  had  buried  in  one  trench 
eighty-seven  of  our  brave  boys,  with  no  coffins,  but  merely 
wrapped  in  their  gray  blankets,  in  which  they  still 

'  Sleep  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking ! '  " 

After  having  been  upon  his  feet  almost  constantly  for  seven 
days  and  nights,  Dr.  Stephens  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  steam 
boat  load  of  wounded,  whom  he  saw  duly  bestowed  in  the 
various  hospitals  of  Cincinnati,  and  when  he  returned  to  the 
front,  found  the  Sixth  Ohio  moving  well  up  toward  Corinth. 

In  the  advance  upon  Corinth,  which,  by  General  Halleck's 
excessive  caution  and  absurd  adherence  to  the  methods  of  a 
regular  siege,  was  rendered  slow  and  laborious  in  the  extreme, 
the  Sixth  Ohio  bore  its  full  share  of  duty  in  picketing  and 
reconnoitering  the  front,  protecting  fatigue  parties,  construct 
ing  breastworks,  etc.  Its  services  and  its  surroundings  in  gen 
eral,  during  this  period,  can  be  most  succinctly  presented  in 
diary  form,  somewhat  as  follows : 

April  8th,  Tuesday. — Heavy  burial  parties  began  their  work 
all  over  the  field  of  Shiloh.  The  body  of  an  elderly  man,  in 
plain  clothing,  was  brought  to  General  Nelson's  tent,  as  the 
corpse  of  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  and  was  buried  as 
such,  Captain  Russell,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  superintending  the 
interment.  Company  D  planted  a  head-board  and  enclosed  the 


288  THE   STOEY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

grave  with  a  miniature  paling- fence,  made  from  cracker-boxes ; 
and  it  was  several  weeks  before  the  troops  could  be  satis 
fied  of  the  fact  that  the  case  was  one  of  mistaken  identity 
throughout. 

April  9th. — The  troops  were  in  line  at  4  A.  M.,  and,  stand 
ing  to  arms  until  after  daylight,  were  visited  by  General 
Nelson,  riding  out  to  the  picket  lines.  Admonished  by  the 
surprise  of  Grant's  army  on  the  6th,  the  latter  had  been  estab 
lished  with  much  care,  at  proper  distances  in  advance  of  the 
camps  arid  were  very  strong.  During  the  next  seven  weeks 
every  possible  precaution  continued  to  be  exercised,  picket  duty, 
especially,  being  conducted  with  perfect  system  and  thorough 
ness;  and  in  these  respects,  as  also  in  the  important  art  of 
constructing  field  defenses,  this  period  was  one  of  most  use 
ful  drill  and  discipline  to  the  three  armies  concentrated  under 
General  Halleck  before  Corinth. 

April  12th. — Members  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and 
others,  began  arriving  from  the  North,  with  supplies,  etc.,  for 
the  wounded ;  and  during  the  week  succeeding  this  date,  the 
Sixth  Ohio  was  visited  by  many  Cincinnatians,  who  had  come 
upon  this  mission  of  mercy. 

April  13th,  Sunday. — General  Halleck,  who  had  reached 
Pittsburg  Landing  on  the  preceding  day,  assumed  personal 
command  of  the  combined  armies  of  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee. 
The  wagons  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  came  up  from  Savanna,  but  no 
tents  were  pitched,  the  regiment  still  remaining  in  bivouac  near 
the  old  camp  of  the  Seventy-first  Ohio.  Since  the  battle,  the 
weather  had  been  wet  and  raw. 

April  14th. — The  Sixth  Ohio  underwent  inspection  by  Cap 
tain  Gilbert,  of  General  Halleck's  staif.  An  expedition,  dis 
patched  on  steamers,  to  destroy  the  Bear  Creek  bridge,  on  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  was  perfectly  successful,  and 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  289 

was  followed  next  day  by  an  extended  cavalry  reconnoissance 
toward  Corinth. 

April  15th. — General  Nelson  issued  an  order,  for  the  prep 
aration  of  "reports  certified  to,  on  honor,  of  the  number  of 
knapsacks  lost  in  consequence  of  having  been  thrown  aside  by 
order  of  the  commanding  general,  on  the  evening  of  the  6th 
of  April,  previous  to  entering  the  battle ;  these  reports  to  be 
forwarded  to  division  head-quarters  as  soon  as  possible,  the 
object  being  to  have  the  articles  replaced  at  Government  ex 
pense."  In  compliance  with  this  order,  Lieutenant- Colonel 
Anderson  reported  that  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  lost  sixty  knap 
sacks,  in  addition  to  which,  many  others  had  been  rifled,  and 
some  surgeon  or  surgeons  unknown  had  ordered  a  number  of 
blankets  to  be  unstrapped  and  taken  for  the  wounded.  Second 
Lieutenant  Gettier  certified  that  the  guard  with  which  he  had 
been  left  to  watch  the  knapsacks,  was  at  one  time  pressed  into 
service  to  bury  the  dead. 

April  16th. — For  the  first,  time  since  the  battle,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  pitched  a  regular  camp,  in  a  pleasant  piece  of  woodland, 
about  one-third  of  a  mile  to  the  left  of  its  former  place  of 
bivouac.  The  pickets  of  the  Fourth  Division  were  fired  on  at 
night,  and  again  on  the  night  following. 

April  18th. — Regular  drills  were  resumed  throughout  the 
division,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  held  its  first  dress  parade  since 
leaving  Savanna.  General  Nelson  promulgated  an  order  re 
mitting  athe  sentences  of  the  general  court-martial,  of  which 
Colonel  Hazen  was  president  [held  at  Camp  Andrew  Jackson], 
in  compliment  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  comrades  of  the 
prisoners  in  the  battle  of  the  6th  and  7th  of  April."  On  the 
day  previous,  he  had  ordered  the  convening  of  another  court- 
martial,  with  Colonel  Whittaker,  of  the  Sixth  Kentucky,  as 
president,  and  Major  Christopher  and  Captain  Erwin  as  a  por- 
19 


290  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

tion  of  the  detail  for  members.  At  this  date,  General  Buell 
forbade  the  use  of  bass-drums  with  field  music,  and  thence 
forward  taps  were  either  beaten  on  the  snare-drums,  or  the 
appropriate  bugle-call  was  substituted. 

April  20th,  Sunday. — A  dark  and  gloomy  day,  with  show 
ers  of  rain,  and  at  night  a  cold  inist.  The  whole  of  the  Tenth 
Brigade  was  on  picket,  relieving  the  brigade  of  General  Gar- 
field.  Several  shots  were  fired  during  the  night,  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  mounted  videttes,  beyond  the  chain  of  infantry 
outposts,  but  there  was  no  general  alarm.  Upon  the  recom 
mendation  of  the  Medical  Inspector  of  the  division,  General 
Nelson  directed  the  issue  of  whisky  to  the  troops,  in  rations 
of  one-half  gill  twice  a  day,  with  the  prudential  injunction 
attached :  "  Colonels  of  regiments  will  be  particularly  careful 
in  regard  to  the  use  of  whisky." 

April  22d. — Following  the  example  set  by  the  division  com 
mander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  issued  an  order  as  fol 
lows  :  "  In  consideration  of  the  fact  that  the  regiment  has  been 
on  a  long  and  fatiguing  march  since  the  regimental  court- 
martial  was  held  at  Camp  Andrew  Jackson,  during  which  it 
was  impossible  to  carry  out  the  punishments  then  ordered,  as 
well  as  the  circumstances  that  the  men  then  and  there  tried 
have  behaved  well  while  engaged  in  a  long  and  fearful  battle, 
the  lieutenant-colonel  commanding  deems  it  but  just  and 
proper  to  remit  the  sentences  of  said  court-martial,  and  order 
them  to  duty  as  heretofore.  He  admonishes  them,  however, 
to  be  careful  for  the  future,  and  to  disgrace  neither  themselves 
nor  the  regiment  to  which  they  belong  by  unsoldierly  conduct 
hereafter."  Upon  this  day,  General  Pope's  army  began  arriv 
ing  from  Island  Number  Ten  and  New  Madrid,  Mo.,  and  took 
position  on  the  left  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  extending  the  line 
in  a  direction  nearly  due  south. 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  291 

April  24tL. — Between  8  and  9  A.  M.,  a  member  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio  was  wounded  by  the  careless  discharge  of  a  musket  in  the 
hands  of  one  of  the  old  guards,  whereupon  General  Nelson 
issued  a  stringent  order  for  the  discharge  of  loaded  arms  by 
volley,  each  morning,  upon  the  relief  of  the  previous  day's  de 
tail.  Colonel  Bosley,  having  rejoined  the  regiment  on  the  night 
of  the  22d,  from  Nelson's  Furnace,  again  assumed  command  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  but  in  health  so  sadly  shattered  that,  on  the 
28th,  General  Buell  granted  him  a  sixty-days'  sick-leave,  from 
which  he  never  returned  to  the  front.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Anderson  resumed  command  on  the  26th. 

April  25th. — The  Sixth  Ohio  was  paid  off  by  Major  Lowry, 
for  the  two  months  ending  February  28th. 

April  26th. — A  reconnoissance  in  force  was  made  by  a  de 
tachment  of  Union  troops  as  far  as  Pea  Ridge,  nearly  half-way 
to  Corinth,  and  a  brief  skirmish  ensued  at  one  of  the  advanced 
camps  of  the  enemy,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  eight  or  ten 
rebels. 

April  27th,  Sunday.— The  "  Independent  Guthrie  Grey  As 
sociation,"  of  Cincinnati — a  short-lived  organization,  composed 
principally  of  such  old  members  of  the  Independent  Guthrie 
Grey  Battalion  as  had  not  taken  the  field — having  tendered  its 
assistance  in  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  burying  the 
dead  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment  who  might  at  any  time  be 
sent  to  that  city,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  at  this  date, 
addressed  a  letter  of  thanks,  etc.,  to  Mr.  Charles  E.  Thorp, 
Secretary  of  the  Association,  although  the  regiment  was  not 
then  in  need  of  the  assistance  so  generously  proffered. 

April  28th. — In  the  morning,  General  Halleck  received  a; 
dispatch  announcing  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  and  the  news 
being  immediately  communicated  to  the  troops,  it  was  a  day 
of  universal  rejoicing  and  exultation.  Many  of  the  regiments 


292  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

were  called  into  line,  and  responded  to  the  formal  promulga 
tion  of  the  tidings  with  "  nine  cheers  and  a  tiger." 

April  29th. — General  Pope  pushed  forward  a  reconnoitering 
party  to  Monterey,  a  small  village  situated  about  four  miles 
north  of  the  Mississippi  State  line,  and  nine  or  ten  miles  from 
Corinth.  He  destroyed  some  baggage,  took  fifteen  prisoners, 
and,  for  an  hour,  kept  up  a  furious  cannonading,  which  was 
distinctly  heard  to  the  remotest  portions  of  the  line.  Five  com 
panies  of  Union  cavalry  had  had  a  sharp  little  skirmish  in  the 
same  vicinity  the  day  before. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  General  Halleck  issued  a  field  order, 
placing  General  Thomas  in  command  of  the  right  wing,  con 
sisting  of  that  officer's  own  division  (transferred,  for  the  occa 
sion,  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  commanded  by  T.  W. 
Sherman)  and  the  divisions  of  W.  T.  Sherman,  Hurlbut,  and 
Davis.  General  Grant  was  "  retained  in  general  command  of  the 
district  of  West  Tennessee,"  including  his  old  army  corps ;  but  in 
the  movement  then  making,  was  announced  as  second  in  com 
mand,  under  General  Halleck — a  stroke  of  finesse,  on  the  part 
of  the  latter,  for  virtually  superseding  a  subordinate  whose 
rising  fame  had  previously  excited  his  jealousy,  but  whom, 
although  at  this  time  under  a  heavy  cloud,  he  dared  not  actu 
ally  displace.  General  Buell  remained  in  command  of  the 
center,  and  General  Pope  of  the  left.  When  the  lines  had 
fairly  developed,  and,  with  painful  labor,  began  their  slow 
approach  to  Corinth,  Nelson  found  himself  on  the  left  of 
McCook,  with  Crittenden  filling  the  interval  between  himself 
and  Pope.  By  this  time,  the  Fourth  Division  had  been 
strengthened  by  the  Thirty-first  Indiana  and  Seventeenth 
Kentucky,  both  of  which  regiments  had  fought  at  Donelson, 
under  Lewis  Wallace,  and  again  at  Shiloh,  in  Hurlbut's 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  293 

division,  losing  many  men  in  each  battle ;  and  it  had  also  been 
a  gainer  by  the  substitution  of  Mendenhall's  regulars  for  Har 
ris7  Indiana  Battery.  The  Seventeenth  Kentucky,  Colonel 
John  H.  McHenry  commanding,  was  assigned  to  the  Tenth 
Brigade.  The  latter  still  held  the  left  of  Nelson's  division,  and 
from  the  2d  to  the  27th  of  May — or  during  Colonel  Am  men's 
absence  on  sick  leave — was  commanded  by  Colonel  Grose. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  received  orders  as 
follows  :  "  The  army  will  at  once  be  prepared  for  a  rapid  march, 
each  soldier  to  carry  three  days'  rations  in  his  haversack,  and 
the  wagons  four  days'  rations  additional.  The  baggage  will  be 
limited  to  two  tents  for  each  company,  for  all  purposes,  the  al 
lowance  of  axes  and  spades,  and  such  cooking  utensils  as  are 
absolutely  necessary.  The  soldiers  will  carry  their  blankets 
only,  leaving  their  knapsacks  in  camp.  One  hundred  and  forty 
rounds  of  ammunition  will  be  taken  along — forty  rounds  in  the 
cartridge-boxes  and  one  hundred  rounds  in  wagons,  and  on  the 
eve  of  a  battle,  forty  additional  rounds  will  be  issued  each  man, 
to  be  carried  on  the  person."  In  this,  there  was  promise  of 
action — something  "short,  sharp,  and  decisive,"  as  well  suited 
the  temper  of  the  troops ;  but,  whatever  may  have  been  Buell's 
conceptions,  the  campaign,  under  Halleck's  management,  event 
uated  in  the  solemn  farce  of  a  four-weeks'  siege. 

May  2d. — At  6  A.  M.,  Nelson's  division  moved  by  the 
"  Bark  Road,"  toward  Corinth,  passing  the  camps  of  Wood  and 
Thomas  about  three  miles  out.  One  mile  beyond  them,  it  took 
a  new  road  on  the  left,  corduroyed  through  a  dense  swamp,  and 
at  2  P.  M.  went  into  bivouac  on  the  Hamburg  road,  within  ten 
miles  of  Corinth,  and  about  the  same  distance  from  its  last 
camping  ground.  In  the  afternoon  a  squad  of  General  Nelson's 
body-guard  discovered  a  rebel  picket-post  somewhere  on  the 


294  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMEXT. 

front,  "  surrounded  it  on  two  sides,"  (as  the  infantry  repeated 
the  story,)  and  succeeded  in  capturing  one  prisoner.  The 
Sixth  Ohio  passed  the  night  sleeping  in  line  at  the  foot  of  their 
gun-stacks,  in  an  old  cotton-field  on  the  left  of  the  road.  Com 
panies  E  and  K  were  on  picket  and  could  distinctly  hear  the 
rumbling  of  trains,  the  whistling  of  locomotives,  etc.,  in  the 
direction  of  Corinth,  which  gave  rise  to  considerable  specula 
tion  whether  Beauregard  was  not  evacuating  that  stronghold. 

May  3d. — Under  the  protection  of  Hazen's  brigade  and  two 
pieces  from  Konkle's  battery,  strong  working  parties  were  sent 
forward  about  four  miles  to  repair  the  roads,  which  the  enemy 
permitted  them  to  do  without  molestation.  Between  4  and  5 
P.  M.,  heavy  cannonading  was  heard  upon  the  left,  being,  in 
fact,  a  reconnoissance  by  General  Pope ;  and  that  night  eighty 
rounds  of  cartridges  were  issued  the  troops.  At  this  date,  Gen 
eral  Buell  forbade  the  use  of  all  music,  except  for  sounding  the 
regular  calls. 

May  5th. — Starting  at  5  A.  M.,  in  the  midst  of  a  pouring 
rain,  which  had  begun  falling  fifteen  hours  before,  the  division 
made  a  march  of  four  miles,  and  passed  the  day  resting  in  a 
low  piece  of  woodland,  while  a  heavy  detail  was  repairing  the 
roads,  corduroying  swamps,  etc.  It  returned  to  camp  after 
dark,  the  rain  having  ceased  during  the  forenoon. 

May  6th. — Intelligence  of  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  was 
received  at  night,  and  was  followed  by  orders  to  draw  five 
days'  rations  and  march. 

May  7th. — The  division  changed  camp  about  five  miles 
southward  to  the  State  line,  where  "the  men  get  water  in 
Mississippi,"  as  a  private  letter  said,  "  and  make  their 
coffee  in  Tennessee."  The  country  hereabouts  was  found  to 
be  a  great  improvement  on  that  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburg 
Landing. 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  295 

May  8th. — At  an  early  hour  the  division  Avas  put  under 
arms,  with  orders  for  the  men  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness 
to  march,  at  any  moment,  to  the  support  of  General  Pope,  who 
was  about  making  a  reconnoissance  through  Farmington,  as 
close  up  to  Corinth  as  possible.  At  11.30  A.  M.,  it  started, 
the  Sixth  Ohio  in  advance,  with  Major  Christopher  in  charge 
of  the  skirmish  line.  It  took  a  route  through  the  woods,  fol 
lowing  which  south-westward  five  miles,  about  3  P.  M.  it 
halted  at  Nichols7  Ford — a  point  where  one  of  the  numberless 
wagon-paths  to  Corinth  crosses  a  deep  swamp — threw  out  a 
heavy  picket,  and  began  another  extensive  task  of  corduroy 
ing.  "  There  was  a  bright,  crescent  moon/'  says  the  diary  of 
one  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  pickets,  "  slightly  obscured  at  times  by 
the  light  and  feathery  clouds  that  were  floating  over  the  sky. 
Calm,  quiet,  and  peaceful  had  nature  made  this  summer  night, 
but  now  it  was  disturbed  by  the  presence  and  operations  of 
armed  hosts.  Our  videttes  fired  several  times  before  nine 
o'clock,  and  somewhat  later  whole  volleys  of  musketry  broke 
out,  in  the  direction  of  General  Pope,  upon  our  left;  while  the 
stroke  of  axes  and  the  tramping  of  horses,  in  the  swamp  be 
hind  us,  fell  continually  on  our  ears ;  and  pleasant  sounds  these 
latter  were,  though  indicative  of  some  urgency  in  our  present 
movement.  About  10  P.  M.,  we  were  startled  by  the  dull, 
heavy  report  of  a  siege-gun  off  to  the  southward.  It  was  twice 
repeated,  and  then  we  thought  of  a  night  attack,  with  all  its 
confusion  and  horrors;  but  it  ceased  with  the  third  gun,  and 
afterward  we  learned  that  it  was  merely  a  signal." 

May  9th. — At  1  A.  M.,  the  pickets  were  called  in,  and  the 
division  returned  to  camp,  thereby  escaping  a  heavy  flank  at 
tack,  which,  it  was  afterward  ascertained,  the  rebels  had  pre 
pared  to  deliver  at  daylight.  At  10  A.  M.,  a  two  hours'  can 
nonading  began  in  the  direction  of  Farmington,  at  which  place 


296  THE  STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

two  of  Pope's  brigades  had  become  hotly  engaged,*  and 
whither  Nelson's  entire  division  was  put  in  rapid  motion  at 
midday.  The  sounds  of  battle  soon  died  entirely  away,  how 
ever,  and  after  marching  in  all  about  eight  miles,  the  troops  at 
sundown  again  moved  forward  to  Nichols'  Ford,  and  there 
went  into  bivouac,  with  six  batteries  of  artillery  in  command 
ing  positions  close  by. 

May  10th. — A  hot  and  summer-like  day,  improved  by  fur 
ther  reconnoitering  and  busy  labor  at  the  ford;  in  other  re 
spects,  it  passed  in  perfect  and  totally  unexpected  quiet.  Late 
in  the  day,  the  Sixth  Ohio  moved  into  a  wheat-field  on  the  left 
of  the  road,  and  slept  on  the  edge  of  the  swamp,  beyond  which 
was  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  on  picket.  "  Another  beautiful 
moonlight  night,"  says  the  diary  before  quoted,  "  and  almost 
undisturbed.  Awakening  from  my  first  nap,  about  nine  o'clock, 
the  grand  old  strains  of  the  "  Star-spangled  Banner"  came  waft 
ing  up  from  the  southward,  where  it  was  being  played  by  a 
brass  band  somewhere  along  the  lines  of  General  Pope.  I 
thought  I  never  had  heard  such  delicious  music;  it  sounded 
like  enchantment." 

May  12th. — Being  relieved  by  another  command  during  the 
fosenoon,  the  Tenth  Brigade  moved  about  one-third  of  a  mile 
to  the  rear,  and  pitched  camp  in  the  woods  on  the  left  of  the 
wagon  road. 

May  13th. — The  enemy's  demonstrations  beyond  the  ford 
were  more  bold  than  at  any  time  previous,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio 
was  ordered  up,  as  support  for  the  pickets,  in  case  they  should 
be  attacked. 

*  General  Palmer,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  Nelson's  division 
a  few  months  later,  was  a  conspicuous  actor  in  the  battle  of  Farmington, 
and  greatly  distinguished  himself.  He  was  then  commanding  the  First 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Army  of  the  Mississippi  (General  Pope's). 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  297 

May  14th. — In  the  afternoon  several  heavy  guns  were 
fired,  away  to  the  right,  but,  with  this  exception,  the  day  was 
very  quiet. 

May  15th. — The  weather  was  still  oppressively  hot.  The 
Sixth  Ohio  had  regimental  drill  before  breakfast,  and  again 
during  the  forenoon;  and  in  the  afternoon  one  of  the  divisions 
on  Nelson's  right  made  another  reconnoissance  beyond  the 
swamp.  Between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  the  di 
vision  was  called  out  by  a  bugle  alarm  at  head-quarters ;  at 
which  the  Sixth  Ohio,  turning  out  in  full  strength,  formed  in 
column,  by  divisions  doubled  on  the  center,  and  within  five 
minutes  was  in  position  in  the  cleared  field  near  the  General's 
head-quarters,  holding  the  right  of  the  line  occupied  by  the 
division.  It  lay  there  a  full  hour,  in  the  dust  and  moonlight, 
and  then  returned  to  quarters. 

May  17th. — The  Sixth  Ohio  was  extended  along  the  swamp, 
as  the  inner  one  of  a  double  or  treble  line  of  pickets.  About 
half  an  hour  before  sundown,  Nelson's  and  the  neighboring 
divisions  made  a  rapid  advance  across  the  swamp,  and  about 
half  a  mile  beyond,  the  rebel  outposts  falling  back,  firing  as 
they  went ;  and  the  regiment  slept  on  its  arms  in  an  old  corn 
field  behind  a  thick  wood.  The  interval  along  the  front,  be 
tween  Nelson  and  Crittenden,  was  occupied  by  an  open  and 
slightly-rolling  stretch  of  farming  land. 

May  18th,  Sunday. — Tents  were  brought  up — three  for  each 
company — and  pitched  immediately,  as  the  weather  threatened 
rain.  The  pickets,  in  the  woods  and  beyond,  kept  up  an  inces 
sant  firing  all  day.  Scores  of  men  from  the  Sixth  Ohio  and 
other  regiments  stole  out  to  the  front  to  take  a  hand  in  the 
skirmishing,  on  private  account.  One  of  the  rebel  pickets 
had  an  English  weapon  (as  was  inferred  from  the  ball  it 
carried),  with  a  range  of  fifteen  hundred  yards,  and  with  this 


298  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

he  annoyed  the  Union  outposts  for  several  days  with  perfect 
impunity. 

May  19th. — At  sunrise  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  sent  to  the  front, 
about  half  a  mile  distant,  there  relieving  the  Seventeenth  Ken 
tucky.  Companies  A  and  F  were  immediately  deployed  as 
skirmishers  through  the  woods,  and  a  wheat- field  full  of  dead 
timber,  while  the  rest  of  the  regiment  began  throwing  up 
breastworks,  as  part  of  General  Halleck's  system  of  field  de 
fenses,  which  extended  in  a  nearly  continuous  line  for  ten  or 
twelve  miles.  Picket  firing  was  very  brisk  all  day,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  squads  making  good  use  of  the  bushwhacking  tactics  ac 
quired  during  their  Western  Virginia  campaigns;  and  in  the 
afternoon  it  grew  so  heavy  that  Lieutenant  Thatcher,  by  Gen 
eral  Nelson's  order,  was  sent  out  to  regulate  it,  and  caution  the 
men  against  wasting  their  ammunition.  About  5  P.  M.  a 
rebel  gun  was  run  to  the  front,  and,  beginning  a  furious  can 
nonade,  compelled  the  working  parties  to  retire  under  shel 
ter  of  the  hill  immediately  in  rear  of  the  breastworks.  Mean 
time,  Lieutenant  Thatcher  had  ordered  the  pickets  to  fall  upon 
their  faces,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ander 
son  for  orders.  "  Hold  the  ground  at  all  hazards,"  was  the 
answer ;  "  you  will  have  help  soon ! "  The  position  was  grow 
ing  hotter  every  moment,  and  one  of  the  reserve — Sergeant 
James  Lawler,  of  Company  E — as  he  sat  at  the  foot  of  a  tree, 
eating  a  soldier's  frugal  supper,  had  been  severely  wounded  by 
a  fragment  of  a  shell,  when  a  section  of  MendenhalPs  battery 
galloped  to  the  front,  and  opened  fire  with  such  effect  as  to 
silence  the  enemy  at  once.  Lieutenant  Thatcher  was  rewarded 
with  universal  praise  on  this  occasion,  which  was  calculated  to 
try  the  coolness  and  individual  courage  of  the  troops  on  picket, 
equally  at  least  with  most  emergencies  of  a  real  battle.  At 
dark  the  picket  line  was  reenforced  by  Company  E,  and  after- 


THE   ADVANCE   UPON   CORINTH.  299 

ward  by  Company  D  also.  The  rest  of  the  regiment  continued 
hard  at  work  upon  the  breastworks.  The  night  was  very  dark, 
the  sky  heavily  overcast,  and  the  air  thunderous,  with  a  cool 
wind,  blowing  in  fitful  gusts  from  the  west. 

May  20th. — About  2  A.  M.,  the  six  reserve  companies  were 
formed  in  line  behind  the  breastworks,  where  they  passed  the 
remainder  of  the  night,  in  the  midst  of  a  drenching  rain.  At 
7  A.  M.,  the  regiment  was  relieved  by  the  Thirty-sixth  Indi 
ana,  and  returned  to  quarters. 

May  21st. — At  8  A.  M.,  the  Sixth  Ohio  moved  to  the  breast 
works,  where  Companies  A,  F,  and  D  were  set  at  work  to  finish 
a  traverse — a  huge  mound  of  earth  near  the  left  of  Nelson's 
line  of  defense — thrown  up  for  the  protection  of  artillery  there 
to  be  posted.  In  the  afternoon,  the  Twenty-second  Brigade, 
under  Colonel  Sedgewick,  of  the  Second  Kentucky,  made  a  de 
termined  reconnoissance,  losing  nineteen  men.  Two  alarms 
occurred  during  the  night,  one  of  them  being  accompanied 
with  heavy  picket  firing. 

May  22d. — At  daylight  the  Sixth  Ohio,  which  had  slept  in 
line  at  the  breastworks,  was  again  called  to  its  feet  by  another 
quick  succession  of  musketry  volleys  in  front.  No  enemy  ap 
pearing,  however,  General  Nelson  gave  strict  orders  against  the 
repetition  of  these  needless  alarms,  and,  as  General  Buell  also 
exerted  his  authority  to  stop  the  wasteful  expenditure  of  am 
munition,  picket  firing  almost  ceased  for  several  days.  About 
7  A.  M.,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  relieved  by  the  Twenty-fourth,  and 
returned  to  camp. 

May  23d. — A  dreary  day,  with  steady  rain  in  the  after 
noon  and  during  the  night.  About  11  A.  M.,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  was  advanced  to  the  breastworks,  and  Companies  B  and 
G  were  thrown  forward  on  picket,  but  at  dark  the  regiment 
was  relieved. 


300  THE  STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

May  24th. — The  Sixth  Ohio  enjoyed  a  day  of  unbroken 
rest.  In  the  afternoon  a  reconnoitering  party  from  Pope's 
forces  had  a  noisy  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  not  far  beyond 
Crittenden's  lines.  At  this  period,  desertions  were  unusually 
numerous  in  Beauregard's  army,  scarcely  a  day  passing  in 
which  whole  squads  did  not  make  their  escape  to  the  Union 
lines. 


COKINTH   AND   BEYOND.  301 


CHAPTER    XXI. 
IN    CORINTH    AND    BEYOND. 

(MAY  2&-JUNE  8,  1862.) 

great  event  of  May  25th  (Sunday)  was  the  presenta- 
-*-  tion  of  a  flag  from  the  Sixth  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
in  the  presence  of  the  entire  division.  "  It  is  a  beautiful  flag," 
says  the  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette,  in  describing 
the  ceremony,  "  made  by  Messrs.  John  Shillito  &  Co.,  of  your 
city,  and  bearing  this  inscription :  '  The  Sixth  to  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio— Shiloh,  April  7,  1862.'  At  fifteen  minutes  be 
fore  four  o'clock,  which  was  the  appointed  hour,  the  assembly 
sounded  at  division  head-quarters,  whereupon  the  several  bri 
gades  promptly  presented  themselves,  and  took  position  on  a 
slightly-undulating  plain  to  the  left  of  the  camp  occupied  by 
the  Sixth  Kentucky,  where  a  hollow  square  was  formed,  with 
the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  in  the  center,  facing  each 
other.  At  a  sound  of  the  bugle,  General  Buell  and  staff,  Pope 
and  staff,  Crittenden  and  staff,  Granger  and  staff,  and  Nelson  and 
staff,  rode  in  from  one  of  the  salient  points  of  the  square,  while 
the  troops  recognized  their  presence  by  coming  to  a  '  Present.' 
Ten  thousand  bayonets  glistened  in  the  sun,  ten  thousand  men 
stood  in  serried  ranks  motionless  as  statues,  not  a  word  was 
whispered,  and  the  silence  was  all  unbroken,  until  softly  borne 
along  the  air  came  the  stirring  strains  of  the  ( Star-spangled 


302  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Banner/  In  cadenced  step,  General  Nelson  advanced  to  the 
color-line  of  the  Sixth,  and  escorted  the  colors  to  the  center, 
where  he  was  met  by  Colonel  Fred.  Jones,  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  and  then  in  few  but  eloquent  words  presented  the  flag. 
He  alluded  to  the  compact  of  friendship  existing  between  the 
regiments,  which,  he  said,  had  been  indissolubly  sealed  upon 
the  field  of  Shiloh,  where  the  two  commands  had  battled  side 
by  side.  The  flag  was  well  deserved  by  valorous  deeds,  and 
was  not  the  result  of  a  reputation  made  or  nurtured  by  news 
paper  correspondents.  He  committed  it  to  their  care,  with  the 
feeling,  upon  his  own  part,  that  he  was  intrusting  the  beauti 
ful  emblem  of  liberty  to  a  gallant  band  that  would  die  rather 
than  see  one  of  its  stars  dimmed  by  treason  or  the  luster  of  its 
colors  faded  by  treachery.  Accepting  the  token  in  a  very 
slightly-embarrassed  manner,  Colonel  Jones  referred  to  the 
friendship  which  bound  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  together, 
paid  a  feeling  tribute  to  the  banner  itself,  and  promised  that 
the  noble  standard  placed  in  the  keeping  of  his  regiment  should 
be  returned  unsullied  by  any  act  of  treachery  or  dishonor.  He 
charged  the  men  of  his  command  to  guard  it  well,  and  to  re 
member  Bunker  Hill,  Yorktown,  and  Monmouth;  Chippewa, 
Lundy's  Lane,  Ticonderoga,  and  New  Orleans;  Buena  Vista, 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  Molino  del  Rey.  He  charged  them 
to  remember  also  the  high  confidence  which  the  Sixth  reposed 
in  the  Twenty-fourth,  in  placing  such  a  sacred  gift  in  their 
keeping,  and  concluded  by  returning  thanks  both  to  the  Sixth 
Regiment  and  General  Nelson." 

That  evening  the  officers  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  most  hos 
pitably  entertained  at  the  head-quarters  of  Colonel  Jones. 
Their  gift  was  borne  through  every  action  in  which  the  Twen 
ty-fourth  Ohio  was  subsequently  engaged — including  Stone 
River,  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge,  Ring- 


IN   CORINTH   AND   BEYOND.  303 

gold,  Buzzard's  Roost  Gap,  and  several  minor  affairs;  and 
being  presented  to  the  State,  at  the  muster-out  of  the  regi 
ment,  it  now  rests  in  the  capitol  at  Columbus. 

The  26th  of  May  found  the  Sixth  Ohio  again  on  duty  at  the 
breastworks,  Companies  I  and  K  occupying  the  picket-line, 
where  every  thing  was  very  quiet  all  day.*  Brisk  artillery 
firing  was  heard  upon  the  left,  however,  about  5  P.  M.  The 
night  was  one  of  great  activity  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  in 
Corinth ;  locomotives  and  moving  trains  could  be  heard  plainly, 
and  also  the  calls  of  bugles  and  drums.  On  the  morning  of 
the  27th  the  regiment  was  relieved,  but  at  1  P.  M.,  with  the 
rest  of  the  brigade,  it  was  again  ordered  to  the  front,  to  sup 
port  a  reconnoitering  party  from  one  of  the  divisions  on  the 
right,  and  did  not  return  until  sunset.  Between  ten  and 
eleven  o'clock  at  night  three  rockets  were  seen  to  shoot  up 
into  the  sky  at  a  point  some  miles  toward  the  left,  which  was 
followed  by  three  loud  explosions.  At^the  same  time,  firing 
sprang  up  along  the  picket-lines  directly  in  front,  and  the 
troops  were  ordered  to  prepare  to  "  fall  in "  at  a  moment's 
notice,  but  there  was  no  further  demonstrations. 

Halleck's  immense  army  of  nearly  or  quite  one  hundred 
thousand  effective  men  had  now  approached  to  within  two 
miles  of  the  rebel  fortifications,  which,  on  that  portion  of  the 
line  covered  by  Nelson's  division,  were  hidden  behind  thick 
woods  and  an  almost  impenetrable  morass,  although  they  were 
commanded  perfectly,  as  it  afterward  proved,  by  a  number  of 
siege-guns — 32-pound  Rodmans — in  position  at  the  breast 
works.  General  Pope's  artillery  was  posted  even  more  advan 
tageously  along  a  front  less  unfavorable  for  its  employment. 

*An  interesting  letter,  by  Sergeant  Nicholson,  of  Company  K,  Sixth 
Ohio,  describing  a  friendly  picket  scene  which  occurred  at  this  date,  is 
given  in  Volume  V  of  the  "  Rebellion  Record." 


304  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Beauregard,  whose  force  scarcely  exceeded  one-half  of  that  op 
posed  to  him,  was  too  astute  a  commander  not  to  have  per 
ceived  the  necessity  which  had  arisen  for  abandoning  Corinth, 
notwithstanding  that  he  himself  had  previously  declared  it  the 
strategic  point  of  the  campaign ;  and  by  this  time  his  prepara 
tions  to  that  end  were  nearly  complete.  General  Halleck,  how 
ever,  had  allowed  himself  to  be  most  preposterously  deceived 
in  regard  to  the  designs  of  his  antagonist,  and  it  was  not  till 
after  the  bulk  of  the  rebel  army  was  twenty  miles  from  Cor 
inth  that  he  began  to  comprehend  the  real  situation. 

On  Wednesday,  May  28th,  each  of  his  three  army  corps 
commanders  received  orders  to  push  forward  a  strong  recon- 
noissance,  which  was  to  be  supported,  if  necessary,  by  the  whole 
command.  The  result  of  this  movement  was  an  advance  of 
the  entire  line,  at  some  points  to  within  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
of  the  enemy's  defenses,  with  the  very  general  expectation,  oil 
the  part  of  the  troops,  that  a  decisive  battle  would  be  brought 
on  thereby.  On  Nelson's  front  the  Nineteenth  and  Twenty- 
second  Brigades  gained  about  two-thirds  of  a  mile  during  the 
afternoon,  the  Tenth  Brigade,  meanwhile,  remaining  at  the 
breastworks,  as  reserves.  Heavy  firing  was  heard  upon  the 
front  of  both  Thomas  and  Pope,  giving  rise  to  a  hundred  ru 
mors,  and  several  times  the  crash  of  musketry,  mingling  with 
the  roar  of  cannon,  in  the  direction  whither  Hazen  and  Sedge- 
wick  had  moved,  sounded  to  the  troops  in  the  rear  like  the 
opening  of  a  general  engagement ;  but  the  night  fell  peacefully, 
after  the  hot  and  feverish  day,  and  the  reserves  slept  soundly, 
while  the  advance  brigades  were  busily  at  work,  amid  the 
darkness,  in  covering  their  new  positions  by  a  double  line  of 
rifle-pits. 

On  the  29th,  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  roused  at  the  earliest 
dawn  and  moved  forward  to  relieve  the  Nineteenth,  taking 


IN   CORINTH   AND    BEYOND.  305 

position  immediately  to  the  left  of  the  Twenty-second,  with  its 
own  left,  composed  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  resting  upon  the  main 
road  to  Corinth.  Near  by,  MendenhalPs  Battery  was  posted  so 
as  to  sweep  the  road  and  the  adjacent  open  spaces  in  advance. 
"  The  work  of  making  rifle-pits  commenced  at  once,"  says  a 
Sixth  Ohio  soldier,  "  and  by  11  A.  M.,  there  was  a  continuous 
line  of  them  extending  along  the  front  of  our  two  brigades,  on 
the  summit  of  a  gentle  slope,  the  western  side  of  which  (that 
toward  Corinth)  was,  for  the  most  part,  open  and  cultivated, 
with  a  thick  and  densely-wooded  swamp  at  its  base.  Except 
ing  the  main  road  to  Corinth,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  other 
narrow  causeways,  this  swamp  was  unbroken  by  any  paths 
practicable  for  troops,  and  being  well  picketed  it  screened  our 
line  completely.  Several  times  during  the  day,  there  were 
fierce  outbreakings  of  artillery  fire  away  to  the  left,  and  also 
many  heavy  though  fitful  volleys  of  musketry  directly  in  our 
front,  and  twice  we  were  called  into  line  ready  for  the  appre 
hended  attack.  Three  or  four  of  our  pickets  were  wounded, 
one  of  them  mortally — a  member  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
whom  I  saw  borne  past  us  to  the  rear  about  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon.  But  again  the  cool  and  tranquil  night  came  on, 
and  we  lay  down  before  our  stacked  arms,-  as  usual,  to  think, 
to  sleep,  to  dream.  Half  of  us  wrere  still  awake,  when,  about 
10  P.  M.,  we  heard  wild  cheering  in  the  direction  of  Corinth, 
continuing  for  several  minutes;  then  it  ceased,  and  all  was 
silent  as  before.  What  could  it  mean  ?  A  light  breeze  was 
blowing  from  the  south-west,  and  nearly  all  night  we  could 
hear  locomotives  screaming  and  trains  running  heavily  on  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  once  a  band  playing  some  trea 
sonable  air  or  other,  until  the  sound  gradually  died  away  in 
the  distance.  Many  of  our  officers  became  convinced  at  once 
that  the  enemy  were  evacuating  Corinth. 
20 


306  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

"  On  the  30th,  we  were  in  line  at  day-break,  as  usual,  but 
were  soon  allowed  to  break  ranks  and  get  breakfast.  It  must 
have  been  a  very  little  after  six  o'clock  when  the  sound  of  ter 
rific  explosions  toward  Corinth  burst  suddenly  upon  our  ears. 
"VYe  listened  intently.  '  Blowing  up  their  works/  said  a  dozen 
of  the  men  close  by  me,  and  the  words  were  hardly  spoken 
when  General  Nelson  came  galloping  down  the  line,  hotly  pur 
sued  by  his  entire  staff.  '  They  are  gone ! '  he  exclaimed,  '  the 
d — d  rascals !  Sixth  Ohio,  get  ready  and  follow  me  into  Cor 
inth  ! '  and,  dashing  down  the  road,  he  was  lost  to  view  behind 
the  woods.  The  explosions  continued,  though  less  rapid  than 
at  first,  and  we  saw  a  thick  volume  of  dense,  black  smoke  roll 
ing  away  to  the  northward,  where  it  was  finally  lost  in  a  mass 
of  lead-colored  clouds.  Reenforced  by  Companies  C  and  D, 
Companies  E  and  H,  which  had  been  on  picket-duty  all  night, 
promptly  deployed  as  skirmishers  and  pressed  vigorously  for 
ward.  A  rapid  exchange  of  shots  in  front  soon  assured  us 
that  the  enemy's  pickets,  at  least,  still  remained  between  us 
and  Corinth,  and  in  a  few  minutes  we  learned  that  Captain 
Erwin,  while  gallantly  leading  on  his  men,  had  been  danger 
ously  wounded  in  the  right  side,  the  ball  passing  entirely 
through  his  body.  He  was  at  once  carried  to  the  rear  and 
taken  to  the  division  hospital. 

"Small  squads  of  the  enemy's  pickets  were  being  brought 
back,  under  guard,  as  our  brigade  took  up  its  line  of  march 
for  Corinth,  in  the  following  order :  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Sev 
enteenth  Kentucky,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  Sixth  Ohio. 
Our  division,  with  the  Tenth  Brigade  in  advance,  was  the 
first  to  enter  the  deserted  intrenchments,*  which  it  did  about 

*The  honor  of  being  first  in  Corinth,  such  as  it  was,  had  three  different 
claimants,  namely,  Nelson,  W.  T.  Sherman,  and  Pope.     General  Buell'a 


IX   CORINTH   AND   BEYOND.  307 

twenty  minutes  past  seven  o'clock.  .A  short  distance  inside 
the  rebel  breastworks  we  saw  an  effigy  hanging  from  a  scrubby 
little  tree,  and  close  by  a  pine  board  nailed  fast,  on  which  was 
traced  in  uncouth  letters :  l  Halleck  outwitted — what  will  old 
Abe  say?'  Reaching  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  half  a  mile 
beyond  the  fortifications,  we  stacked  arms  and  there  lay  in  the 
hot  sun  all  day,  excepting  the  time  that  the  men  took  to  ex 
plore  the  town,  gather  relics,  etc.  Several  buildings,  fired  by 
the  enemy,  continued  to  burn  until  the  middle  of  the  after 
noon — warehouses  principally,  whose  contents  the  rebels  had 
not  been  able  entirely  to  remove.  Some  tents  and  camp  equi 
page  were  captured,  but  the  amount  of  stores  left  behind  was 
so  small,  and  Beauregard  effected  his  escape  so  dexterously, 
that  we  are  obliged  to  consider  the  evacuation  very  successful." 

Toward  noon  General  Halleck  rode  into  Corinth,  and  estab 
lished  head-quarters  at  the  Tishimingo  Hotel.  By  his  orders, 
General  Pope  commenced  pursuit  the  same  day,  but  it  was 
an  ill-digested  movement,  and,  being  very  tardily  supported, 
amounted  to  nothing.  It  nevertheless  afforded  General  Hal 
leck  the  pretext  for  a  most  astounding  series  of  dispatches, 
such  as  to  mislead  the  Government  into  believing  that  the 
campaign  had  resulted  in  a  brilliant  success,  while,  in  fact,  he 
had  suffered  to  slip  through  his  fingers  an  opportunity  well- 
nigh  as  grand  and  decisive  as  his  antagonist  had  lost  at  Shiloh. 

Eighty-five  prisoners  were  captured  by  the  Fourth  Division 
during  the  first  day's  occupation  of  Corinth,  and  intrusted  for 
safe  keeping  to  Companies  B  and  G,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio.  Among 
the  number  was  a  conscripted  Ohioan  named  Ephraim  Estep, 
who  seemed  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  surrender  himself.  In 

official  report  of  the  advance  on  Corinth  states  distinctly  that  Xelson  was 
the  first  to  enter,  and  General  Ammen's  testimony  is  quite  positive  to  the 
same  effect. 


308  THE   STOKY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

the  evening,  the  division  returned  to  camp,  with  a  feeling  of 
intense  relief,  following  eight  weeks  of  arduous  labor  and  con 
tinual  suspense,  such  as  every  old  campaigner  will  readily  ap 
preciate. 

On  Sunday,  the  1st  of  June,  the  Tenth  Brigade  relieved  the 
Nineteenth  at  the  advanced  rifle-pits,  but  returned  before  noon, 
leaving  the  Twenty-second  Brigade  in  the  act  of  pitching  its 
tents  there.  Picketing  in  that  vicinity  had  been  abandoned. 
Drum-calls  now  came  into  use  again  throughout  the  Fourth 
Division,  and  in  the  evening  the  Sixth  Ohio  held  dress  parade, 
for  the  first  time  in  nearly  three  weeks.  Nelson  had  issued  an 
order  upon  the  subject  of  drills,  etc.,  on  the  preceding  day,  as 
follows :  "  Whether  the  troops  are  in  the  trenches  or  not,  they 
will  be  drilled  from  half-past  five  to  half-past  seven  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  from  four  to  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
Brigade  commanders  will  report  every  case  of  non-observance 
of  this  order,  with  the  reason  therefor.  Dress  parade  must  in 
no  instance  be  omitted.  Care  must  be  taken  to  prevent  that 
laxity  in  discipline  and  instructions  liable  to  follow  the  change 
of  affairs  in  our  front." 

On  the  2d,  Nelson's  division  marched  to  Corinth,  where  it 
relieved  Crittenden's  upon  an  anomalous  sort  of  picket  duty. 
The  night  was  rainy,  but  most  of  the  troops  slept  well  under 
the  flies  of  rebel  tents  and  other  hastily  improvised  shelters, 
and  next  day  the  command  was  relieved  by  McCook. 

At  6  A.  M.,  on  the  4th,  the  division  took  up  its  line  of 
march  to  support  General  Pope,  the  Tenth  Brigade  leading. 
It  moved  in  light  marching  order,  without  tents  or  knapsacks, 
passed  through  Corinth  and  southward  through  Danville,  and 
after  a  march  of  fourteen  miles,  halted  about  one  mile  beyond 
the  Tishimingo  Kiver — a  turbid,  very  sluggish  little  stream — 
where  a  working  party  was  found  just  completing  a  new  bridge 


IN   COKINTH   AND   BEYOND.  309 

in  place  of  that  destroyed  by  the  retreating  rebels.  The  Sixth 
Ohio  was  moved  out  one-third  of  a  mile  on  the  Bipley  road, 
nominally  on  picket,  where  t  remained  nearly  forty-eight 
hours. 

Starting  at  3  P.  M.,  on  the  6th,  the  division  passed  through 
the  village  of  Kienzi,  and  two  miles  beyond  it  went  into  bivouac 
for  the  night,  having  marched  seven  miles.  Water  was  scarce 
throughout  this  whole  region.  Next  morning  the  division 
moved  about  five  miles  further,  and  took  its  place  in  the  line 
of  battle  into  which  the  pursuing  columns  had  been  absurdly 
formed,  stretching  from  Blackland  on  the  right  to  Booneville 
on  the  left,  and  at  no  point  more  than  thirty-two  miles  from 
Corinth.  The  Tenth  Brigade  bivouacked  on  a  high,  thinly- 
timbered  piece  of  woodland,  at  the  junction  of  several  different 
roads,  where  it  remained  for  two  days.  By  this  time  the  pur 
suit,  so-called,  had  been  discontinued,  and  Halleck's  immense 
army — the  largest  ever  assembled  west  of  the  Alleghanies — 
was  being  divided  into  its  three  constituent  corps,  for  service  in 
as  many  different  quarters,  under  their  original  commanders ;  in 
fact,  General  Wood's  division,  and  one  or  two  others  belong 
ing  to  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  had  already  been  put  en  route 
toward  Chattanooga,  which  was  to  be  General  BuelPs  next  ob 
jective,  preliminary  to  a  march  into  East  Tennessee. 

The  changes  which  occurred  among  the  commissioned  officers 
of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  during  the  Corinth  campaign,  may  be  briefly 
recorded. 

Captain  Andrews'  resignation  was  accepted  on  the  22d  of 
April.  He  subsequently  went  into  business  in  Memphis,  Ten 
nessee,  where  he  still  resides.  Captain  Tinker  rejoined  the 
regiment  from  sick-leave,  on  the  20th  of  April,  and  Captain 
Tatem,  on  the  24th ;  Dr.  Stephens,  from  the  charge  of  a  hos- 


310  THE  8TOEY   OF   A  REGIMENT. 

pital  boat  to  Cincinnati,  as  before  noted,  on  the  6th  of  May, 
and  Dr.  Ames  from  duty  elsewhere,  a  few  days  earlier,  (Dr. 
H.  B.  Musgrave,  of  Cincinnati,  having  been  on  duty  with  the 
regiment  during  the  interval  that  both  were  absent) ;  Captain 
Clarke,  from  duty  at  Nashville,  on  the  14th  of  May;  and 
Quartermaster  Shoemaker,  from  absence  granted  on  account  of 
his  accidental  wound,  on  the  16th. 

On  the  27th  of  April,  Second  Lieutenant  Choate  was  trans 
ferred  from  Company  G  to  Company  E,  and  on  the  30th,  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  Gee  was  granted  a  sick-leave,  from  which  he 
did  not  return  until  the  middle  of  June.  On  the  24th  of 
May,  Lieutenant  William  P.  Anderson  was  relieved  from  duty 
at  division  head-quarters,  at  his  own  request,  and  rejoining  the 
regiment  was  temporarily  assigned  to  Company  D,  but  on  the 
3d  of  June,  was  again  detailed  on  General  Nelson's  staff,  as 
Engineer  Officer  for  the  division.  During  the  third  week  of 
May,  Adjutant  Heron  was  stricken  down  by  sickness,  and  on 
the  25th,  started  northward,  on  sick-leave.  Continued  ill 
health  preventing  his  return  to  the  field,  he  resigned  in  July, 
and  afterward  went  into  the  hardware  business  in  Cincinnati, 
in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  He  was  a  very  efficient  and  much 
valued  officer.  On  the  31st  of  May,  Captain  Wilmington  was 
accidentally  shot,  receiving  a  flesh  wound  in  the  leg ;  he  secured 
a  leave  of  absence,  and  a  few  weeks  later  resigned.  He  after 
ward  removed  to  Idaho  Territory,  but  died  in  the  year  1866, 
during  an  ocean  voyage  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

Captain  Wilmington's  departure  having  left  Company  C 
without  a  single  commissioned  officer,  on  the  3d  of  June 
First  Lieutenant  McAlpin  was  assigned  to  its  command,  until 
further  orders.  When  the  regiment  next  day  turned  its  back 
on  Corinth,  First  Lieutenant  Morgan  was  left  behind,  sick  at 
division  hospital,  where  Captain  Erwin  was  also  lying  in  a 


IN   CORINTH   AND   BEYOND.  311 

critical  condition  from  the  wound  which  he  had  received  on 
the  30th  of  May.  A  day  or  two  later  Dr.  Stephens  was  de 
tailed  to  take  charge  of  the  surgical  ward  in  the  general  field 
hospital  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  it 
was  broken  up  in  July. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  private  William  R.  Goodnough,  of 
Company  G,  was  appointed  quartermaster-sergeant.  About 
a  week  earlier,  private  Alfred  West  (known  throughout  the 
regiment  as  "  Taps  ")  was  discharged,  in  accordance  with  Gen 
eral  BuelPs  order  for  discontinuing  the  use  of  bass-drums. 

Thus,  the  commissioned  officers  on  duty  with  the  Sixth  Ohio, 
when  the  regiment  moved  eastward  again,  after  the  fall  of  Cor 
inth,  were  as  follows.  Those  absences  not  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  paragraphs  have  been  accounted  for  in  Chapter 
XVI: 

Field  and  Staff — Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson,  Major  Chris 
topher,  Quartermaster  Shoemaker,  and  Assistant-Surgeon 
Ames. 

Company  A — Captain  Westcott. 

Company  B — First  Lieutenant  Charles  B.  Russell,  com 
manding  company. 

Company  C — First  Lieutenant  McAlpin  (temporarily  trans 
ferred  from  Company  A)  commanding  company. 

Company  D — Captain  Tatem. 

Company  E — First  Lieutenant  Donovan,  commanding  com 
pany  ;  and  Second  Lieutenant  Choate. 

Company  F — Captain  Brutton  and  First  Lieut.  Thatcher. 

Company  G — Capt.  A.  O.  Russell  and  First  Lieut.  Getty.. 

Company  H — Captain  Tinker. 

Company  I — Second  Lieut.  West,  commanding  company. 

Company  K — Capt.  Clarke  and  Second  Lieutenant  Gettier. 


312  THE  STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 
IUKA   AND   ATHENS. 

(JUNE  &-JULY  13, 1862.) 

IMMEDIATELY  upon  abandoning  the  hypothetical  pursuit 
of  Beauregard's  retreating  forces,  the  Army  of  the  Ohio 
entered  upon  a  weary  and  exhausting  campaign  of  five  months' 
duration,  which,  in  some  respects,  is  entirely  anomalous  in  the 
history  of  the  war.  Originally  undertaken  for  the  capture  of 
Chattanooga  and  the  liberation  of  East  Tennessee,  that  cam 
paign  witnessed  the  transfer  of  the  whole  army  to  the  banks 
of  the  Ohio,  and  was  regarded  as  happily  ended  at  last  by  the 
mere  expulsion  of  the  enemy  from  Kentucky  and  the  firm  re 
tention  of  Nashville.  In  common  with  every  other  regiment 
of  Btiell's  army  (with  few  exceptions),  the  Sixth  Ohio,  during 
this  period,  was  almost  constantly  on  the  march  or  other  duty, 
and,  in  respect  to  physical  endurance  and  the  patriotism  of  its 
individual  members,  underwent  a  trying  ordeal,  such  as  no 
soldier  who  passed  through  it  will  ever  forget.  The  events 
which  befell  the  regiment  henceforward  to  the  initiation  of  the 
Stone  River  campaign,  we  shall  chronicle  principally  in  the 
form  of  a  diary. 

June  9th,  Monday. — At  2  P.  M.,  the  Fourth  Division  began 
its  march  eastward  toward  Chattanooga.     It  passed  through 


ITJKA   AND   ATHENS.  313 

the  camps  of  T.  "VV.  Sherman  and  Pope,  and,  about  IIP.  M., 
halted  for  the  night  on  the  northern  outskirts  of  Jacinto,  the 
county  seat  of  Tishimingo  County,  Miss.,  after  a  severe  march 
of  fifteen  miles.  The  country  was  found  to  be  more  rolling 
than  in  the  vicinity  of  Corinth,  with  pine-trees  growing  thrift 
ily  among  the  forests  of  oak,  elm,  hickory,  etc.  By  this  date, 
a  Southern  summer  had  set  in,  with  all  its  heat  and  suffocating 
dust,  and  henceforth  the  customary  style  of  marching  was  to 
start  at  day-break  or  soon  afterward,  and,  after  a  rest  of  three 
or  four  hours  at  midday,  to  finish  the  day's  journey  in  the 
cooler  part  of  the  afternoon. 

June  10th. — The  division  started  at  6J  A.  M.,  taking  the 
road  toward  Tuscumbia,  and,  after  a  march  of  seventeen  miles, 
bivouacked  for  the  night  five  or  six  miles  south-west  of  luka. 
"  Half  a  mile  before  halting,"  says  a  Sixth  Ohio  diary,  "  we 
came  to  a  beautiful  little  stream  of  running  water  (Deer  Creek), 
which  made  the  boys  cry  out,  '  Virginia  !  Virginia  ! ' ' 

June  llth. — The  division  marched  six  miles  to  a  camp  in 
the  woods  adjoining  Wood's  division,  one  mile  east  of  luka, 
where  it  remained  nearly  a  week.  Nelson's  trains  came  up 
from  Corinth  on  the  12th,  and  on  the  13th  McCook  moved 
past  him  toward  Tuscumbia.  In  obedience  to  Halleck's  orders 
(which  contemplated  the  impolitic,  if  not  impracticable,  meas 
ure  of  making  Corinth  the  base  of  operations  against  Chatta 
nooga),  General  Buell  was  repairing  the  Memphis  and  Charles 
ton  Railroad  as  he  advanced,  and  found  the  task  a  slow  and 
laborious  one. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  inspected  by 
Captain  Higgins,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  specially  ap 
pointed  for  that  duty,  and  all  the  surplus  clothing  and  baggage 
found  in  possession  of  the  troops  were  turned  over  to  the 
quartermaster's  department,  to  be  stored  at  Eastport.  This 


314  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

was  in  accordance  with  an  order  from  General  Buell,  dated  the 
3d,  limiting  the  allowance  of  clothing,  etc.,  for  each  man  to  the 
following  articles,  namely,  one  blanket,  two  shirts,  two  pairs  of 
drawers,  two  pairs  of  socks,  one  jacket  or  blouse,  one  pair  of 
pants,  one  pair  of  shoes,  and  one  cap  or  hat.  About  the  same 
time  the  allowance  of  tents  for  each  company  was  reduced' to 
three  Sibleys  for  the  men  and  one  wall  or  Sibley  tent  for  the 
officers — "  one  of  the  company  tents  to  be  taken  for  hospital 
purposes  whenever  the  hospital  tents  should  be  found  insuffi 
cient  for  the  sick."  Within  six  weeks,  the  large  amount  of 
stores  sent  to  Eastport  (which  included  thousands  of  half- worn 
overcoats,  and  other  private  property)  was  destroyed  by  a  rebel 
cavalry  raid,  yet  the  Government  never  reimbursed  the  men 
for  their  losses  there. 

At  this  time,  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  commanded  by  Briga 
dier-General  Ammen,  who  had  been  promoted  soon  after  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  although  his  commission,  as  afterward  re 
ceived,  gave  him  rank  only  from  the  16th  of  July  (1862);  the 
Nineteenth  Brigade,  by  Colonel  Grose,  during  the  temporary 
absence  of  Colonel  Hazen ;  and  the  Twenty-second  Brigade,  by 
Brigadier-General  Mahlon  D.  Manson,  who  had  succeeded  to 
that  command  on  the  29th  of  May,  the  day  before  the  evacua 
tion  of  Corinth. 

June  17th,  Tuesday. — The  Fourth  Division  marched  from 
luka,  its  three  brigades  moving  at  intervals  of  five  miles,  in  the 
order  in  which  they  are  named  in  the  preceding  paragraph. 
The  Tenth  Brigade  started  at  9  A.  M.,  with  Company  F,  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  as  advance  guard  and  Company  A  as  pioneers. 
"  Our  pioneer  wagon  upset,"  says  an  officer's  diary,  "  and  in  a 
deep  mud-hole  at  that.  Somewhat  later,  a  Seventeenth  Ken 
tucky  wagon  did  the  same,  badly  hurting  three  men  who  were 
walking  along-side.  Three  other  men,  belonging  to  the  same 


ITJKA   AND   ATHENS.  315 

regiment,  were  sun-struck,  and  one  of  them  died.  A  member 
of  Company  F,  Sixth  Ohio,  who  was  sick  and  weak,  fell  down 
near  a  wagon  and  had  his  foot  run  over.  During  the  day  the 
sick  in  the  ambulances  suffered  terribly  from  the  intense  heat 
and  the  dust;  and,  for  that  matter,  so  did  all  the  troops." 
After  fording  Big  Bear  Creek,  and  when  within  a  mile  and  a 
half  of  Buzzard's  Roost,  or  about  four  miles  within  the  State 
of  Alabama,  the  brigade  was  overtaken  by  Captain  Kendrick, 
with  orders  from  General  Nelson  to  return  instantly  toward 
luka,  which  was  threatened  by  a  heavy  body  of  rebel  cavalry. 
It  recrossed  Bear  Creek,  and,  after  an  exhausting  day's  march 
of  fifteen  miles,  halted  for  the  night  an  hour  after  dark,  on  the 
summit  of  the  hill,  one  mile  west  of  that  stream.  Hundreds 
of  stragglers  slept  on  the  banks  of  the  creek  or  by  the  side  of 
the  road  thither.  At  this  date  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson 
received  a  fifteen-days7  leave  of  absence,  and  immediately  started 
for  Cincinnati,  leaving  Major  Christopher  in  command  of  the 
regiment. 

The  Tenth  Brigade  remained  in  bivouac,  in  nearly  the  same 
position  as  that  just  noted,  for  three  entire  days.  During  this 
time,  it  was  paid  off  by  Major  Foote  for  the  two  months  end 
ing  April  30th,  and  was  reviewed  by  General  Nelson.  On  the 
latter  occasion,  only  four  companies  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  in 
line,  the  rest  being  on  picket  duty  or  guarding  railroad 
bridges  in  the  vicinity.  Says  the  diary  of  a  private ;  "  Com 
panies  B  and  E  were  stationed  at  the  main  bridge  over  Bear 
Creek,  where  the  boys  enjoyed  quite  a  holiday,  and  so  many 
were  plashing  about  in  the  water  all  day  that  I  thought  Bare 
Creek  would  be  the  most  appropriate  orthography.  The  creek 
strongly  reminds  us  of  dear  old  Elkwater,  which  it  almost 
equals  in  size,  even  after  so  much  dry  weather.  During  the 
night  of  the  19th,  a  small  band  of  mounted  guerrillas — assisted 


316  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

by  some  of  the  citizens,  no  doubt — succeeded  in  tearing  up  sev 
eral  rods  of  railroad  track  about  six  miles  east  of  here,  and,  on 
the  approach  of  Union  cavalry,  escaped  through  the  woods. 
The  train  from  luka  which  passed  us  at  Bear  Creek,  at  half- 
past  two  in  the  morning,  narrowly  escaped  destruction — in  fact, 
the  locomotive  was  thrown  from  the  track,  though  not  down 
the  embankment,  as  the  wretches  designed.  The  damage  will 
be  repaired  in  a  day  or  two." 

June  21st. — Crossing  Bear  Creek  a  third  time,  the  Tenth 
Brigade  changed  camp  four  miles  forward  to  a  thick  chaparral, 
one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Buzzard's  Roost,  where  it  lay  in 
luxurious  idleness  for  nearly  three  days. 

June  24th. — The  brigade  marched  eighteen  miles,  and  went 
into  bivouac  in  an  old  cotton  field  on  a  hill  overlooking  Tus- 
cumbia.  A  portion  of  the  trip  was  made  on  the  railroad  track 
past  Cherokee  station  and  an  immense  plantation  well  stocked 
with  slaves,  which  belonged  to  a  rebel  quartermaster-general 
named  Dickson.  The  rear-guard  of  HascalPs  brigade,  of 
Wood's  division,  was  the  only  body  of  troops  found  in  Tus- 
cumbia,  the  rest  being  already  across  the  Tennessee.  The  field 
officer  of  the  day  having  neglected  to  call  in  the  first  platoon 
of  Company  K,  Sixth  Ohio,  from  picket,  when  the  brigade 
started  in  the  morning,  it  remained  on  duty  for  several  hours 
longer,  and  did  not  overtake  the  column  until  next  day. 

June  25th. — The  command  marched  about  five  miles  through 
Tuscumbia  to  Jackson's  Landing  (so  called  from  the  fact  that 
General  Jackson  here  crossed  his  army  in  the  war  of  1812), 
and  was  ferried  across  the  Tennessee  by  the  Lady  Jackson,  a 
little  stern-wheel  steamer,  towing  two  barges.  A  circuitous 
inarch  of  three  more  miles  through  Florence,  brought  it  to  a 
pleasant  camping  place  in  a  thin  belt  of  woods  bordering  the 
Tennessee  River,  about  a  mile  above  the  town. 


IUKA   AND   ATHENS.  317 

June  26th. — The  march  was  resumed  at  3  P.  M.,  on  the 
turnpike  toward  Athens  and  Huntsville.  Seven  miles 
brought  the  brigade  to  Shoal  River,  where  it  bivouacked  with 
Company  B,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  guarding  the  bridge  over  that 
stream. 

June  27th.— The  Sixth  Ohio  had  the  advance.  At  9  A.  M., 
the  column  came  up  with  the  rear  of  Crittenden's  division,  just 
moving  out  of  his  last  night's  camping  place  on  Blue  Water 
Creek,  and  there  halted  several  hours  to  allow  his  trains  to 
get  ahead.  The  brigade  bivouacked  at  night-fall  in  a  wood 
two  miles  west  of  Rogersville,  after  a  total  march  of  sixteen 
miles. 

June  28th. — Passing  through  Rogersville  at  sunrise,  the 
column  soon  afterward  overtook  Crittenden's  slow-moving 
trains  again,  and  a  drove  of  beef-cattle  destined  for  the  use  of 
the  troops  at  Huntsville.  Toward  noon,  it  forded  Elk  River, 
and  early  went  into  bivouac  in  an  open  meadow,  after  marching 
only  eight  miles. 

June  29th,  Sunday. — The  Tenth  Brigade  marched  fifteen 
miles,  through  Athens,  and  at  1  P.  M.  encamped  in  a  low  piece 
of  woods  one  mile  east  of  the  town.  The  troops  complained 
greatly  on  account  of  having  to  march  in  the  heat  of  the  day. 

The  Fourth  Division  remained  in  camp,  near  Athens,  for 
two  weeks,  protecting  one  of  the  two  lines  of  railroad  toward 
Nashville,  which  General  Buell  was  laboriously  engaged  in  re 
opening,  not  merely  as  a  necessary  preliminary  in  his  move 
ment  upon  Chattanooga,  but  also  as  the  only  means  left  him  of 
subsisting  his  army.  The  Tennessee  River  was  no  longer 
available  for  the  latter  purpose,  while  the  great  superiority  of 
the  rebels  in  cavalry  enabled  them  to  cut  his  railroad  com 
munications  with  Corinth  almost  at  pleasure,  and  keep  them 
constantly  broken.  While  at  Athens,  the  troops  received  the 


318  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

depressing    intelligence    of  the    seven    days'   fighting    before 
Richmond  and  McClelland  retreat  to  the  James  River. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  Major  Christopher  mustered  the  Sixth 
Ohio  for  payment.     The  regiment  was  already  greatly  weak 
ened  in  its  total  of  "present  for  duty,"  by  the  wholesale  sys 
tem  of  details  for  clerical  duty  of  various  kinds  from  which  it 
afterward  suffered  so  much,  and  which,  although  a  high  com 
pliment  to  the  superior  qualifications  and  business  training  of 
its  members,  was  never  a  source  of  gratification  to  the  regi 
mental  commanders,  but  rather  the  reverse.      On  the  3d  of 
July,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  returned  from  Cincinnati, 
after  an  absence  from  the  regiment  of  sixteen  days.     The  "  Glo 
rious  Fourth"  was  celebrated  by  a  grand  review  of  the  entire 
division  at  the  Limestone  County  fair  grounds,  a  short  dis 
tance  west  of  Athens.     Says  a  diary :  "  We  started  from  camp 
at  precisely  4  P.  M.,  the  Tenth  Brigade  in  the  advance,  and 
then  the  Nineteenth,  with  the  Twenty-second  Brigade  coming 
last.     The  dust  was  awful — so  dense  at  times  that  it  was  im 
possible  to  see  three  files  ahead.     It  was  a  sore  disappointment 
to  those  who  had  come  out  in  the  splendor  of  white  collars  and 
fancy  cravats,  as  many  of  our  boys  had  done;  and  as  for  the 
polished  accouterments  and  shining  brasses  of  all  of  us,  they 
might  as  well  have  been  left  untouched.     When  we  were  once 
on  the  fair  grounds,  however,  the  ceremony  passed  off  well,  and 
greatly  to  the  delight  of  a  large  crowd  of  contrabands  who  had 
congregated  there,  all  in  holiday  attire,  of  course.     Of  the  citi 
zens,  none  were  present,  except  a  few  belonging  to  the  poorer 
class,  and  in  going  through  the  town  we  were  scowled  at  from 
almost  every  house." 

On  the  9th  of  July,  the  Tenth  Brigade  (from  sanitary  con 
siderations)  changed  camp,  four  and  a  half  miles,  to  a  thin 
piece  of  woodland,  timbered  with  scrub-oak  and  a  dense  under- 


IUKA    AND   ATHENS.  319 

brush,  about  two  miles  from  Athens.  A  spring  near  by  fur 
nished  a  bountiful  supply  of  clear,  cold  water  for  the  entire 
command.  Next  morning,  Company  B,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio, 
was  sent  out  on  picket,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  remainder  of 
the  regiment,  in  company  with  a  detail  of  three  hundred  men 
from  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  re 
ceived  orders  to  march  to  the  Elk  River  tunnel,  about  twenty 
miles  north  of  Athens,  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  a  roadway 
through  it  for  the  passage  of  wagon-trains,  and  ultimately  re 
laying  the  railroad  track.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  had 
command  of  the  whole  detail.  "  We  started  at  2  P.  M.,"  says 
a  Sixth  Ohio  letter,  "marching  to  Athens,  and  from  thence 
seven  miles  northward,  where  we  bivouacked.  A  tremendous 
thunder-storm  passed  over  us  during  the  night.  We  con 
tinued  the  march  at  4  A.  M.,  next  morning  (July  llth); 
halted  for  an  hour  by  a  beautiful  spring,  forded  Elk  River, 
and  rested  three  hours  on  the  northern  bank.  At  9  P.  M.,  we 
finally  reached  the  tunnel,  after  a  march  of  twenty-two  miles, 
or  nearly  three  miles  further  than  the  total  distance  from 
Athens,  if  we  had  come  by  the  proper  route,  instead  of  taking 
the  roundabout  road  that  we  did.  Next  morning  (the  12th) 
our  force  began  work  at  the  tunnel,  and  after  clearing  out  the 
roadway — which  occupied  only  about  half  an  hour's  time — 
devoted  the  remainder  of  the  day  to  improving  the  approaches 
to  it.  Near  the  tunnel  we  saw  a  trestle-work  which  the  rebels 
had  destroyed.  At  eight  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  (the  13th) 
the  expedition  started  homeward,  recrossed  Elk  River,  and 
rested  on  its  banks  as  before ;  kept  on,  and  halted  for  the  night 
at  the  end  of  eleven  miles,  or  about  eight  miles  from  Athens. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  understands  the  science  of  march 
ing  troops  perfectly."  But,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  next  chapter, 
the  expedition  never  returned  to  camp  at  Athens. 


320  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

During  the  second  week  in  July,  General  Ammen,  by  an 
order  from  department  head-quarters,  was  detailed  for  duty 
upon  an  important  court-martial,  whereupon  the  command  of 
the  Tenth  Brigade  again  and  permanently  devolved  upon  Col 
onel  Grose,  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana. 

This  brave  and  faithful  officer  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  16th  of  December,  1812,  and  is  the 
grandson,  by  both  parents,  of  Revolutionary  heroes,  one  of 
whom  was  killed  in  fighting  for  national  independence.  In 
1816,  his  father,  "William  Grose,  Sr.,  removed  to  Fayette 
County,  Indiana,  and  in  1830  to  the  adjoining  county  of  Henry, 
which  has  since  remained  the  General's  home.  .Although  lim 
ited  pecuniary  means  prevented  him  from  ever  attending  col 
lege,,  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  good  common  school  educa 
tion,  while  assisting  in  the  care  of  his  father's  farm,  and 
afterward  studied  law,  which  profession  he  followed  with  dis 
tinction  and  great  success  for  many  years.  He  was  located  at 
Newcastle,  but  his  practice  extended  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  and  also  to  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States. 
Previous  to  this  time,  however,  (in  1836,)  he  married  Miss 
Needham,  the  daughter  of  a  neighboring  farmer,  and  a  lady  of 
great  personal  beauty. 

In  1852,  he  wras  one  of  the  Presidential  electors  for  Franklin 
Pierce,  and  in  1856-7,  served  a  term  in  the  State  Legislature, 
as  the  representative  of  Henry  County.  When  the  war  broke 
out,  he  was  discharging  the  duties  of  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  for  his  district,  to  which  position  he  had  been 
elected  during  the  preceding  year.  At  the  request  of  Governor 
Morton,  he  resigned  in  August,  1861,  to  accept  the  colonelcy 
of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  and  soon  afterward  took  the  field 
with  that  splendid  organization.  For  several  weeks  prior  to 
the  incorporation  of  the  latter  into  the  Tenth  Brigade,  he  had 


IUKA    AND   ATHENS.  321 

been  in  command  (as  the  ranking  officer)  of  the  forces  stationed 
in  the  vicinity  of  New  Haven,  Kentucky,  consisting  of  the 
Thirty-fourth  Indiana,  the  Fifteenth  Kentucky,  and  his  own 
regiment.  Colonel  Grose's  conduct  at  Shiloh  was  such  as  to 
secure  for  him  the  warmest  commendations  of  his  superiors. 
His  part  in  that  battle  was  conspicuous,  but  as  it  has  been 
detailed  at  length  in  a  preceding  chapter,  a  mere  reference  to 
it  will  be  sufficient  here;  and  the  same  is  true  of  his  services 
as  commander  of  the  Tenth  Brigade,  in  May  (1862),  and  after 
ward  of  the  Nineteenth  Brigade  during  the  temporary  absence 
of  Colonel  Hazen. 


21 


322  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

MURFREESBORO'. 

(JULY  14-31.) 

ENERAL  FORREST'S  brigade  of  rebel  cavalry,  OD 
Sunday,  the  13th  of  July,  surprised  Murfreesboro'  and 
captured  the  entire  garrison,  amounting  to  about  one  thousand 
men,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  T.  T.  Crittenden, 
originally  the  colonel  of  those  old  comrades  of  the  Sixth  Ohio 
in  the  Laurel  Hill  campaign — the  Sixth  Indiana  Infantry. 
This  sudden  and  unexpected  blow  the  whole  army  regarded 
as  peculiarly  humiliating.  Moreover,  it  severed  the  only  line 
of  railroad  communications  which  General  Buell  had  yet  suc 
ceeded  in  re-opening  with  his  base  at  Nashville,  and  jeopar 
dized  the  safety  of  that  post  itself.  To  counteract  this  alarm 
ing  change  in  the  condition  of  affairs,  General  Nelson  was 
ordered  to  march  to  Reynolds'  Station,  forty-three  miles  from 
Athens — which  was  as  far  south  as  the  Tennessee  and  Central 
Alabama  Railroad  had  then  been  put  in  running  order — and 
there  take  cars  for  Nashville,  from  whence  he  was  to  move  upon 
Murfreesboro'  and  re-open  communication  as  speedily  as  pos 
sible.  The  Tenth  Brigade  had  just  received  a  greatly-needed 
supply  of  clothing,  which  was  only  partially  distributed,  but, 
as  the  emergency  did  not  admit  of  a  moment's  unnecessary  de 
lay,  Nelson  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  that  favorite  com* 


323 

mand,  and  ordering  his  other  brigades  to  follow,  at  8  A.  M., 
of  July  14th,  began  a  forced  march  northward.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Anderson's  expedition,  just  returning  from  Elk  River 
tunnel,  fell  in  with  the  column  at  Athens,  after  a  rapid  march 
that  morning  of  about  eight  miles,  and  without  waiting  to  rest 
or  even  draw  rations,  pushed  on  with  the  remainder  of  the 
brigade.  The  men  suffered  intensely  from  the  heat,  and  several 
cases  of  sun-stroke  occurred,  but  it  was  nearly  9  P.  M.  before 
General  Nelson  halted  for  the  night,  at  a  magnificent  spring  on 
the  Tennessee  State  line,  fifteen  miles  from  Athens.  The  troops 
slept  by  the  road-side,  without  going  into  regular  bivouac, 
and,  resuming  the  march  at  half-past  two  o'clock  (on  the  15th) 
marched  four  miles  and  forded  Elk  River  before  sunrise,  then 
snatched  a  hurried  breakfast  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village  of 
Elkton,  and  again  pushed  forward.  At  the  end  of  fifteen  miles 
further,  the  head  of  the  column  reached  Pulaski,  where  it  went 
into  bivouac  on  the  banks  of  Richland  Creek,  and  ambulances 
and  wagons  were  sent  back  six  miles  toward  Elkton,  to  bring 
in  the  sick  and  feeble.  At  Pulaski  the  Seventeenth  Kentucky 
was  replaced  in  the  Tenth  Brigade  by  the  TwTenty-third  Ken 
tucky,  Colonel  Mark  Mundy  commanding,  which  contained 
many  officers  and  men  from  Cincinnati  and  vicinity  who  were 
personally  acquainted  in  the  Sixth  Ohio. 

July  16th. — A  comfortable  march  of  eight  miles  brought  the 
troops  to  Reynolds'  Station  by  8  A.  M.  A  long  train  of  cars 
was  in  waiting,  upon  which  they  immediately  began  embark 
ing,  leaving  the  wagon  trains  and  nearly  all  the  baggage,  under 
guard  of  the  Second  Kentucky  (which  had  accompanied  the 
Tenth  Brigade  from  Athens),  to  follow  by  turnpike.  Rebel 
guerrillas  had  lately  burnt  a  bridge  and  destroyed  a  water-tank 
near  Reynolds'  Station,  and  for  the  first  ten  miles  a  locomotive 
piloted  the  way,  with  General  Nelson  himself  standing  at  the 


324  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

side  of  the  engineer.  Next  followed  a  crowded  train  of  freight 
and  platform  cars,  containing  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio  and  MendenhalPs  Battery,  and  then  the  Thirty-sixth  In 
diana  and  Twenty-third  Kentucky  upon  another  train,  a  short 
distance  in  the  rear.  About  three  miles  south  of  Columbia  an 
accident  occurred,  caused  by  the  breaking  of  an  axle,  which 
resulted  in  instantly  killing  private  John  Collins,  of  the  bat 
tery,  as  he  lay  under  a  cannon  asleep,  and  severely  wounding 
two  others,  one  of  them  a  member  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio. 
"  For  a  few  minutes,"  says  a  Sixth  Ohio  diary,  "  Nelson  was 
almost  beside  himself  with  rage.  He  put  both  the  engineer 
and  conductor  under  arrest,  and  did  not  release  them  until 
after  reaching  Nashville.  He  struck  one  of  them  a  ferocious 
blow  in  the  face,  denounced  them  as  secessionists  who  were 
trying  to  murder  his  men,  and  threatened  to  hang  them  both 
before  the  sun  went  down.  By  his  orders,  two  of  our  boys 
were  placed  in  charge  of  the  train,  and  ran  it  throughout  the 
remaining  forty-nine  miles  of  our  journey.  The  accident  de 
layed  us  about  three  hours,  and  when  we  did  start  we  moved 
very  slowly,  so  that  it  was  almost  midnight  when  we  reached 
Nashville,  and  marched  to  a  level  meadow  near  the  peniten 
tiary,  where  we  slept  till  morning." 

July  17th. — At  5  A.  M.,  the  Sixth  Ohio  marched  to  the 
freight  depot,  for  shelter  from  the  rain  that  had  begun  falling 
two  hours  before,  and  most  of  the  men  spent  the  day  in  sight 
seeing  and  looking  up  friends  in  the  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  and 
other  regiments,  as  well  as  citizen  acquaintances  of  the  Camp 
Wickliffe  epoch.  The  brigade  bivouacked  near  its  camping 
place  of  the  preceding  night. 

July  18th.— At  8  A.  M.,  the  Tenth  Brigade  started  by  rail 
for  Murfreesboro',  thirty-two  miles  distant.  Numerous  delays 
occurred,  in  examining  bridges  before  crossing,  in  leaving  Com- 


MURFREESBORO'.  325 

pany  A,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  other  detachments,  as  guards 
at  three  or  four  of  the  larger  ones,  and  in  questioning  the 
paroled  prisoners  who  were  met  returning  to  Nashville,  con 
cerning  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  The  train  halted  near 
the  old  camp  of  the  Third  Minnesota,  half  a  mile  before  reach 
ing  Murfreesboro' ;  the  troops  disembarked,  formed  in  column 
by  companies,  and  with  loaded  arms  at  "right  shoulder  shift," 
marched  rapidly  into  the  town.  They  occupied  it  without 
firing  a  shot.  The  Sixth  Ohio  flag  was  hoisted  over  the  court 
house,  and  a  heavy  picket  having  been  sent  out  in  every  direc 
tion,  the  rest  made  themselves  comfortable  in  the  court-house 
and  other  deserted  buildings  fronting  on  the  public  square. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  was  appointed  post  command 
ant,  and  Captain  Russell  provost  marshal. 

July  19th. — The  troops  slept  on  their  arms  and  were  formed 
in  line  of  battle  at  3  A.  M.  The  latter  precaution  was  con 
tinued  for  several  days.  The  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  Twen 
ty-fourth  Ohio,  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  moved  to  camping 
grounds  in  the  southern  suburbs  of  the  town,  near  the  site  of 
the  railroad  depot,  which  Forrest  had  burned  down.  The  Sixth 
Ohio,  however,  having  been  assigned  to  provost  duty,  remained 
in  its  former  quarters.  During  the  day  troops  began  arriving 
from  the  direction  of  Shelby ville,  Tullahoma,  and  Wartrace, 
and  General  Nelson  compelled  the  citizens  to  return  all  the 
United  States  property  which  had  come  into  their  possession 
at  the  surrender  on  the  13th. 

July  21st. — The  Sixth  Ohio  held  its  first  dress  parade  since 
leaving  Athens.  It  was  witnessed  by  a  large  crowd  of  specta 
tors  at  the  public  square,  and  the  regiment  received  universal 
praise  for  its  neat  appearance  and  precision  in  the  manual  of 
arms.  Company  A  was  relieved  by  a  company  from  the  Sec 
ond  Kentucky,  and  rejoined  the  regiment.  General  Nelson 


326  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

issued  a  proclamation  requiring  the  planters  in  the  vicinity  of 
Murfreesboro7  to  furnish,  next  morning,  "two  hundred  able- 
bodied  working  hands,"  with  one  day's  food  and  necessary  im 
plements  for  the  construction  of  fortifications.  This  being  the 
first  official  document  to  which  his  signature  as  "Major-Gen 
eral"  was  appended,  the  troops  noted  his  promotion  with  great 
satisfaction,  although  regarding  it  as  a  rather  tardy  recognition 
of  the  Fourth  Division's  services  in  the  Shiloh  campaign.  By 
this  date  the  Tenth  Brigade  had  been  reenforced  at  Murfrees 
boro7  by  the  Thirty-fifth  Indiana,  the  Fifty- first  Ohio,  the  Sec 
ond,  Eighth,  and  Twenty-first  Kentucky,  Konkle's  Battery, 
and  considerable  detachments  of  the  Seventh  Pennsylvania 
and  Third  and  Fourth  Kentucky  Cavalry. 

July  22d. — Soon  after  sunrise  a  courier  reached  head-quar 
ters  with  the  intelligence  that  a  reconnoitering  party  from  the 
Seventh  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  had  been  ambuscaded  near 
Lebanon  and  cut  to  pieces.  By  half- past  six  o'clock,  six  reg 
iments  of  infantry- — the  Tenth  Brigade,  with  the  Second  Ken 
tucky  and  Fifty-first  Ohio — and  one  of  cavalry,  were  in  rapid 
march  toward  Nashville,  with  which  all  communication  had 
been  cut  off  during  the  night  by  rebel  guerrillas.  A  short 
distance  from  Murfreesboro7,  Nelson  addressed  the  troops  a  few 
remarks  as  they  filed  past,  informing  them  that  Nashville  was 
believed  to  be  in  danger,  and,  although  the  day's  march  might 
prove  to  be  a  hard  one,  they  must  do  their  best  and  keep  up 
with  the  column.  After  proceeding  twenty-two  miles,  they 
lay  down  at  dark  by  the  road-side,  without  having  encountered 
the  enemy,  although  considerable  bodies  of  them  were  known 
to  be  hovering  about  at  no  great  distance. 

July  23d. — The  expedition  returned  to  Murfreesboro',  by  a 
hard  march  of  twenty-three  miles,  the  last  eight  of  which  was 
on  the  Lebanon  turnpike.  During  its  absence,  Colonel  Barnes, 


MURFREESBOKO'.  327 

of  the  Eighth  Kentucky,  had  had  charge  of  affairs  at  Murfrees- 
boro',  and  a  party  of  Texan  Rangers — who  had  foolishly  been 
permitted  to  pass-  the  picket-line  under  a  flag  of  truce,  osten 
sibly  to  arrange  for  the  exchange  of  a  squad  of  prisoners — 
were  allowed  to  obtain  much  contraband  information  from  citi 
zens.  The  rumor  that  this  party  came  to  demand  the  surren 
der  of  Murfreesboro'  occasioned  great  excitement  for  a  few 
minutes.  The  troops  all  stood  to  arms  around  the  court-house, 
and  Konkle's  Battery  took  position  in  readiness  for  action. 

July  26th.— The  First  and  Twentieth  Kentucky  reached 
Murfreesboro'.  By  this  date  the  fortifications  on  the  elevated 
plain  south  of  the  town  were  beginning  to  assume  formidable 
dimensions  under  the  superintendence  of  Lieutenant  William 
P.  Anderson,  chief  engineer  of  the  division.  In  the  principal 
fort  a  well  was  being  sunk  through  solid  rock,  by  the  laborious 
process  of  blasting. 

July  27th,  Sunday. — About  half-past  nine  o'clock  at  night, 
there  was  a  picket  alarm  on  the  Lebanon  turnpike,  which  was 
immediately  followed  by  long-roll  throughout  eveiy  regiment 
in  the  command.  The  Sixth  Ohio  formed  in  line  within  five 
minutes,  and,  breaking  into  column  by  companies,  marched- 
rapidly  out  the  turnpike,  with  General  Nelson  at  its  head. 
The  sequel  is  graphically  told  in  the  following  caustic  order, 
drafted  by  Nelson's  own  hand,  which  was  next  evening  read 
at  the  head  of  each  regiment  in  the  division :  "  Last  night,  the 
unexpected  approach  of  a  battalion  of  our  own  cavalry,  on  the 
Lebanon  turnpike,  created  an  alarm,  which,  if  it  served  no 
other  purpose,  exposed  to  the  General,  and  to  the  whole  com 
mand,  the  contemptible  way  in  which  the  pickets  on  that  road 
skulked  their  duty,  and  their  poltroonery  in  running  away  from 
their  posts  when  there  was  absolutely  no  enemy  at  all.  Had 
there  been  an  enemy,  it  was  their  duty,  acting  as  skirmishers^. 


328  THE   STORY   OF  A  REGIMENT. 

to  take  advantage  of  the  fences  and  the  woodland,  and  hold 
their  ground  till  supported,  ordered  in,  or  compelled  to  give 
way  before  a  superior  force,  which  should  be  done  in  an  orderly 
manner,  as  becomes  good  soldiers.  But,  to  the  burning  shame 
of  our  uniform,  the  pickets  on  the  Lebanon  pike  ran  away,  like 
a  pack  of  cowards,  and  could  not  be  found  at  all  by  the  General 
commanding  when,  with  his  staff,  he  arrived  on  the  field  of 
fright.  It  is  the  intention  of  this  order  to  hold  them  up  to  the 
scorn  of  the  whole  command."  These  pickets,  who  belonged 
to  a  regiment  which  had  lately  joined  the  Fourth  Division,  had 
their  arms  taken  from  them  and  were  set  to  work  upon  the 
fortifications.  They  afterward  proved  themselves  reliable  and 
gallant  soldiers. 

July  31st. — The  troops  of  the  Tenth  Brigade  received  their 
knapsacks  which  they  had  left  at  Reynolds'  Station  on  the 
16th,  and  soon  afterward  marching  orders  came. 

The  saddest  event  in  the  history  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  during 
the  summer  of  1862,  was  the  death  of  Captain  Tatem,  which 
deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  killed  in  a  rail 
road  accident,  on  the  19th  of  July,  between  Reynolds'  Station 
and  Columbia,  when  on  his  way  to  rejoin  the  regiment  after  a 
.short  absence  occasioned  by  sickness.  The  following  epitome 
of  this  talented  officer's  career  prior  to  the  war  is  taken  from 
an  appreciative  sketch  in  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  published  a 

few  days  after  his  death : 

i 

"Captain  E.  H.  Tatem — or,  as  he  preferred  to  be  designated, 
Zeke  Tatem — was  born  in  Cincinnati,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1834. 
He  was  the  son  of  Henry  S.  Tatem,  Esq.,  long  and  favorably  known 
in  business  circles,  and,  after  completing  his  education  at  Herron's 
Seminary,  spent  some  time  in  the  plumbing  business,  which  he  had 


329 

learned  with  his  father.  After  the  latter's  death,  he  was  engaged 
for  two  years  as  book-keeper  for  Perry  J.  Moore,  Esq.,  in  the  same 
trade.  From  his  earliest  boyhood,  however,  he  exhibited  a  marked 
fondness  for  literature.  Many  of  his  stories  and  sketches  are  pub 
lished,  and  others  still  remain  in  their  original  manuscript,  in  the 
hands  of  his  family ;  and  when  the  proprietors  of  the  Daily  Com 
mercial  offered  him  the  position  of  city  editor,  he  gladly  exchanged 
the  mechanical  for  the  reportorial  profession.  He  was  subse 
quently  employed  on  the  Gazette,  and  then  on  this  paper,  where  he 
remained  until  the  rebellion  called  upon  him  to  take  up  arms  in 
defense  of  his  country.  As  a  journalist,  he  was  prompt,  reliable, 
and  energetic,  courteous  to  the  public  and  generous  to  his  profes 
sional  brethren ;  and  he  was  also  a  brave  soldier,  an  accomplished 
gentleman,  and  honest  man." 

Captain  Tatem's  connection  with  the  Guthrie  Greys  dated 
from  the  19th  of  March,  1855,  and,  although  interrupted  by 
the  pressure  of  other  duties,  was  immediately  resumed  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war.  His  services  as  an  officer  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  having  been  described  in  the  regular  course  of  our  narra 
tive,  need  not  here  be  recapitulated.  His  remains  were  brought 
home  in  charge  of  Captain  O'Dowd,  of  the-  Tenth  Ohio,  and 
now  lie  buried  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Spring  Grove. 

Cincinnati  probably  lost  no  officer  of  similar  grade,  during 
the  war,  whose  death  was  more  widely  and  deeply  lamented 
than  Captain  Tatem's.  His  old  associates  in  the  profession  of 
journalism  called  a  meeting,  which,  with  William  Henry  Smith 
in  the  chair  and  George  S.  Bennett  as  secretary,  adopted  a 
series  of  appropriate  resolutions,  embodying  the  following  sin 
cere  and  just  tribute  to  his  memory :  "  In  the  death  of  Captain 
Tatem,  the  country  has  lost  one  of  its  bravest  and  most  zealous 
defenders  in  this  hour  of  trial ;  his  regiment,  one  of  its  most 
promising  officers  and  thorough  martinets;  the  press  of  this 


330  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

city,  an  industrious,  capable,  and  conscientious  representative; 
and  his  numerous  friends,  a  companion,  liberal,  whole-souled, 
and  generous  to  a  fault." 

A  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  also,  was  held  in 
the  court-house  at  Murfreesboro',  on  the  25th  of  July,  "  to 
express  their  deep  sorrow  at  the  death  of  Captain  Tatem," 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  being  elected  chairman  and 
Captain  Brutton  secretary.  Captain  Russell  and  Lieutenants 
Morgan  and  A.  G.  Williams  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
draft  suitable  resolutions,  of  which  the  following  is  the  leading 
one :  "  In  Captain  Tatem,  we  have  lost  a  brave  comrade,  and 
the  country  a  tried  patriot — a  soldier  always  prompt  in  time  of 
danger,  and  ever  ready  at  the  call  of  duty ;  and  his  death  fills 
us  with  the  greater  sorrow,  from  the  fact  of  his  having  passed 
bravely  through  many  perils  incident  to  a  soldier's  life  to  find, 
at  last,  a  violent  end  by  accident."  * 

The  changes  among  the  officers  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  which  re 
main  to  be  noted  in  this  chapter,  were  as  follows:  Second 
Lieutenant  Royse,  who  had  been  absent  on  recruiting  service, 
etc.,  since  January,  1862,  resigned,  to  take  effect  April  14th. 
He  afterward  went  into  business  in  Cincinnati,  which  is  still 
his  home.  Second  Lieutenant  Morris  rejoined  the  regiment, 
from  recruiting  service,  on  the  25th  of  June,  and,  having  been 
promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  dating  from  February  14,  was,' 
on  the  5th  of  July,  assigned  to  Company  D.  Second  Lieuten 
ant  Gee  rejoined  the  regiment,  from  sick-leave,  on  the  12th  of 
June,  but,  in  July,  was  again  compelled  to  go  to  hospital,  at 

*  Had  Captain  Tatem  lived,  the  history  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  might  have 
been  written  by  an  abler  hand  than  it  has  been.  He  was  known  to  be 
collecting  materials -for  such  a  work,  for  some  time  previous  to  his  un 
timely  decease. 


331 

Nashville,  where  he  resigned  on  the  llth  of  September,  a  few 
days  after  the  regiment  passed  through  that  city,  on  its  march 
northward  to  Louisville.  Recovering  his  health,  however,  he 
subsequently  became  an  officer  in  a  Kentucky  cavalry  regi 
ment,  and  served  with  credit  to  the  close  of  the  war.  In  com 
mand  of  a  detachment  of  his  regiment,  he  narrowly  missed 
intercepting  Jefferson  Davis  a  few  hours  before  the  historic 
capture  of  that  personage,  in  the  disguise  of  Mrs.  Davis'  "  poor 
old  mother."  First  Lieutenant  Morgan  rejoined  the  regiment 
on  the  4th  of  July,  from  absence  in  general  hospital ;  and  First 
Lieutenant  Southgate,  on  the  27th  of  July,  from  duty  as  aid- 
de-camp  to  General  Nelson. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  Second  Lieutenant  Albert  G.  "Williams, 
promoted  from  sergeant-major,  was  assigned  to  Company  B, 
but,  by  the  same  order,  was  detailed  to  act  as  adjutant,  the 
duties  of  which  position  he  had  been  discharging  for  nearly  a 
month.  First  Sergeant  James  F.  Irwin,  of  Company  G,  was 
appointed  sergeant-major.  On  the  5th  of  July,  Captain 
McAlpin,  promoted  from  first  lieutenant,  was  assigned  to 
Company  B,  but  remained  at  the  head  of  Company  C  until  the 
close  of  the  month,  when  he  assumed  the  duties  of  his  own 
command.  At  the  same  date,  Second  Lieutenant  Edmund  B. 
Warren,  promoted  from  sergeant,  in  Company  B,  to  date  from 
the  14th  of  April,  was  announced  as  unassigned ;  and  soon 
afterward  he  resigned,  to  date  from  July  llth.  Lieutenant 
Warren  subsequently  served  as  adjutant  in  another  regiment. 
Captain  Clarke  left  the  regiment,  during  its  march  after  guer 
rillas,  on  the  23d  of  July,  and,  proceeding  to  Nashville,  ob 
tained  a  detail  for  service  in  that  city.  He  returned  during 
the  following  month,  but  never  resumed  command  of  his  com 
pany,  and  finally  resigned,  to  date  from  September  8th.  He 
afterward  held  a  Government  clerkship  at  Washington,  and, 


332  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

in  1866,  was  appointed  second  lieutenant  in  a  regiment  of 
regular  infantry.  His  first  service  was  in  the  Swedish  army. 
On  the  27th  of  August  private  Josiah  W.  Slanker,  of  Com 
pany  A,  was  appointed  commissary-sergeant. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  adjutant-general  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  recom 
mending  the  following  promotions  :  First  Lieutenant  Getty  to 
captain,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Montagnier  to  first  lieutenant, 
as  being  the  ranking  officers  in  their  respective  grades,  and 
"  worthy,  loyal  and  competent  men; "  First  Lieutenant  Charles 
B.  Russell  to  captain,  Second  Lieutenant  West  to  first  lieuten 
ant,  and  Orderly -Sergeant  Joseph  L.  Antram,  of  Company  E, 
to  second  lieutenant,  as  "  every  way  worthy  of  promotion ; " 
Sergeant- Major  Irwin  to  second  lieutenant,  "on  account  of 
faithfulness  and  capability;"  and  Orderly-Sergeant  J.  R. 
Kestner,  of  Company  C,  "  for  fidelity  and  courage." 


McMINKVILLE.  333 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

McMINNVILLE 

(AUGUST  1-SEPTEMBEB  7,  1862.) 

A  \  THEN,  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio  was  assigned  to  its  primal  task  of  liberating  East 
Tennessee,  General  Buell  had  obtained  Halleck's  permission  to 
make  the  advance  by  the  way  of  McMinnville,  and  thence 
eastward  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains;  and  although  this 
permission  was  withdrawn  almost  as  soon  as  granted,  and  Buell 
compelled  to  move  by  a  route  of  his  superior's  choosing,  Mc 
Minnville  was  now  to  be  occupied  for  another  purpose,  namely, 
the  protection  of  Nashville  and  the  vitally  important  line  of 
the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad.  It  was  further  con 
sidered  that  a  force  there  posted  would  be  within  convenient 
supporting  distance  of  the  remainder  of  the  army,  whose  ad 
vance,  since  the  middle  of  July,  had  been  quite  stationary  near 
Battle  Creek. 

August  1st. — Starting  at  5  A.  M.,  the  Fourth  Division 
marched  nineteen  miles,  over  Cripple  Creek  and  through  the 
little  village  of  Readyville  to  Woodbury,  the  borough  town 
of  Cannon  County.  The  column  embraced  detachments  of  the 
Fourth  Kentucky  and  Seventh  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  consti 
tuting  the  advance,  under  Colonel  Wynkoop,  of  the  latter 


334  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

regiment ;  the  Tenth  Brigade,  under  Colonel  Grose ;  the  First 
and  Twentieth  Kentucky,  of  the  Twenty-second  Brigade,  to 
which  was  temporarily  attached  the  Thirty -fifth  Indiana;  and 
a  brigade,  under  Colonel  Stanley  M.  Matthews,  at  that  time 
composed  of  the  Fifty-first  Ohio  and  Eighth  and  Twenty-first 
Kentucky.  Colonel  Hazen,  of  the  Nineteenth  Brigade,  was 
left  in  command  of  the  post  of  Murfreesboro'. 

August  2d. — "  By  mistake,"  says  a  diary,  "  the  bugler  at 
division  head -quarters  blew  the  reveille  at  one  o'clock  this 
morning,  and  was  himself  well  blown  up  for  it  by  Nelson, 
who  threatened  to  buck  and  gag  him  if  he  made  another  such 
blunder,  cheating  the  men  out  of  their  needed  sleep,  etc." 
The  column  started  at  day-break,  and,  climbing  the  long  hill 
just  beyond  Woodbury,  gained  the  first  plateau  of  the  Cum 
berland  Mountains,  on  which  McMinnville  is  situated.  It 
reached  the  latter  place  at  dark,  after  a  hard  march  of  twenty- 
two  miles,  the  cavalry  advance  driving  out  a  small  body  of 
Forrest's  rangers.  McMinnville  is  the  county  seat  of  Warren 
County,  and  the  terminus  of  a  branch  of  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  Railroad,  through  Tullahoma  and  Manchester. 
Although  the  secession  element  largely  predominated,  it  was 
found  to  contain  several  families  of  stanchly  Union  princi 
ples,  prominent  among  whom  were  the  Armstrongs  and  Cliffs. 
Next  day  (Sunday),  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  assigned  quarters  in 
the  court-house,  which  proved  very  comfortable,  except  for  the 
incredible  number  of  fleas  with  which  they  were  tenanted. 

August  4th. — At  4  A.  M.,  the  division  marched  to  attack  a 
band  of  rebel  cavalry,  in  the  direction  of  Sparta,  twenty-two 
miles  distant.  Fording  Collins'  River,  three  miles  out,  it 
reached  Rock  Island,  after  a  rapid  march  of  thirteen  miles, 
found  the  bridge  at  that  point  destroyed,  and  was  forced  to 
cross  at  another  ford,  over  Caney  Fork,  a  mile  and  a  half 


MCMINNVILLE.  335 

below.  The  hill  beyond  was  high  and  very  steep,  and  by  the 
time  all  the  artillery  and  trains  had  been  got  over,  it  was 
night-fall.  The  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Wynkoop,  encountered 
several  hundred  rebels,  with  two  pieces  of  cannon,  and  after  a 
protracted  but  desultory  skirmish,  withdrew  to  a  position  nearer 
the  infantry  supports.  "We  went  on  picket  at  sunset,"  says 
a  Company  K  diarist,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio ;  "  and  being  taken 
so  far  out  that  there  was  danger  of  our  being  cut  off,  the 
field  officer  of  the  day  drew  us  in  some  distance,  after  dark. 
Meantime,  a  heavy  thunder-storm  came  on,  and  we  established 
our  new  posts  in  the  woods,  by  the  glare  of  lightning.  We 
spent  a  miserable  night,  but  heard  nothing,  except  two  yells, 
which  possibly  were  rebel  signals." 

August  5th. — The  Sixth  Ohio  had  the  advance,  moving  at 
the  first  streaks  of  daylight.  After  proceeding  five  miles,  it 
was  suddenly  countermarched,  and  the  whole  force  returned 
to  McMinnville.  Many  hours  were  consumed  in  recrossing 
the  artillery  and  trains,  so  that  it  was  9  P.  M.  when  the 
infantry  went  into  bivouac,  one  mile  from  McMinnville,  at 
the  end  of  a  long  day's  tramp  of  twenty-three  miles.  For 
rest's  cavalry  this  day  picked  up  more  than  one  hundred  strag 
glers,  only  one  of  whom,  however,  was  from  the  Sixth  Ohio — 
private  Henry  Bereiter,  of  Company  G.  The  prisoners  were 
paroled,  and  within  the  next  three  days  nearly  all  returned, 
to  obtain  transportation  to  the  North,  greatly  to  the  indignation 
of  General  Nelson,  who  regarded  them  as  quasi  deserters,  as 
many  of  them  undoubtedly  were.  "  It  is  reported,"  says  a 
private's  diary,  "  that  Bragg  has  crossed  the  Tennessee  River 
a  short  distance  above  Chattanooga,  with  a  force  estimated  at 
60,000  men.  If  so,  it  me&us  fight  somewhere."  Coming  events 
were,  indeed,  casting  their  shadows  before. 

August  6th. — Considerable  reinforcements  of  cavalry  reached 


336  THE  STOEY  OF  A   REGIMENT. 

McMinnville,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  James 
S.  Jackson,  of  Kentucky,  a  warm  personal  friend  of  General 
Nelson.  On  the  next  day,  regular  drills  were  resumed  through 
out  the  Fourth  Division. 

August  8th. — A  foraging  party  from  the  Thirty-fifth  Indiana, 
who  had  been  captured  and  paroled  the  previous  day,  returned 
to  McMinnville,  and  reported  to  General  Nelson.  "  He  gave 
them  a  terrible  tongue-lashing/'  says  a  diary,  "  paraded  them 
through  the  streets  under  guard,  and  finally  lodged  them  in  jail, 
with  the  consolatory  assurance  that  he  would  court-martial  them 
at  once  for  their  inattention  to  duty.  A  small  squad  of  butter 
nuts  were  brought  in  by  our  cavalry  in  the  evening,  which 
served  to  mollify  the  General  a  little.  We  heard  to-day  of  the 
assassination  of  General  Robert  L.  McCook,  and  take  sweet 
comfort  from  the  thought  that  our  old  friends  of  the  Ninth 
will  assuredly  avenge  his  death  as  it  deserves." 

August  10th,  Sunday. — General  Nelson  issued  an  order 
convening  a  general  court-martial,  Colonel  Matthews  to  be 
president,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  one  of  the  mem 
bers.  The  weather  at  this  season  was  uniformly  and  intensely 
hot. 

On  the  llth,  a  train  of  sixty  wagons  was  sent  to  Murfrees- 
boro',  under  the  charge  of  Division  Quartermaster  Fee,  "for 
the  purpose  of  bringing  up  the  property  of  the  division  there 
left  behind."  The  escort  consisted  of  Companies  B,  E,  G,  I, 
and  K,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  under  command  of  Major  Christo 
pher.  The  men  rode  in  the  wagons,  which  were  empty ;  slept 
under  them  at  night,  at  Cripple  Creek,  and  arrived  in  Mur- 
freesboro'  next  day  at  7  A.  M.  On  the  13th,  the  train,  increased 
to  seventy-seven  wagons,  started  to  return,  reaching  McMinn 
ville  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  after  a  hot  and  dusty  march, 
on  which  two  or  three  men  were  sun-struck.  By  Nelson's 


McMINNVILLE.  337 

order,  Major  Christopher  brought  up  from  Murfreesboro'  a 
considerable  number  of  convalescents  and  malingerers,  belong 
ing  to  various  regiments  of  the  division. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th,  General  Nelson  left  McMinnville, 
with  a  strong  escort  of  cavalry,  under  orders  from  General 
Buell  to  hasten  to  Kentucky  and  organize  every  available 
means  for  defending  that  State  against  the  invasion  of  Kirby 
Smith,  which  had  already  begun,  by  an  extensive  raid  of  Scott's 
cavalry  through  Monticello  and  Somerset  to  London,  two  days' 
march  in  the  rear  of  Cumberland  Gap.  Long  before  this,  the 
troops  of  the  Fourth  Division  had  learned  to  place  almost  un 
bounded  confidence  in  their  commander,  and  when  Nelson,  at 
the  battle  of  Richmond — vainly  struggling  in  the  vortex  of 
defeat  to  rally  a  mob  of  raw,  undisciplined,  and  panic-stricken 
soldiers — exclaimed,  in  his  passion  of  despair  and  wrath,  "  Oh, 
for  one  hour  of  the  old  Fourth  Division!"  it  was  but  one 
manifestation  out  of  the  many  which  might  be  cited,  of  the 
extent  to  which  this  feeling  was  reciprocated  by  him.  Not  a 
man  in  his  division  but  witnessed  his  departure  with  regret. 
General  Ammen,  who  had  arrived  on  the  preceding  day,  was 
the  ranking  officer  in  the  division,  and  succeeded  to  its  com 
mand. 

On  the  18th,  at  10  A.  M.,  in  accordance  with  orders  from 
the  War  Department,  applying  to  every  organization  in  the 
army,  Lieutenant- Colonel  Anderson  held  a  special  muster  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  marking  improper  absentees 
and  dropping  them  from  the  rolls  as  deserters.  The  list  in 
cluded  forty- three  names,  of  whom  about  one-half  afterward 
returned  to  the  regiment — fourteen  of  them  being  restored  at 
one  time,  by  the  proper  order  from  the  regimental  head-quar 
ters.  At  this  date,  fully  one  hundred  officers  and  men  were 
absent  on  detached  service. 
22 


338  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

On  the  19th,  General  Thomas  arrived,  and  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  troops  in  the  vicinity  of  McMinnville,  consisting 
at  this  time  of  the  Fourth  and  Sixth  Divisions.  The  latter 
command  (General  Wood's)  was  stationed  along  the  branch 
railroad  to  Tullahoma,  which  was  now  in  process  of  repair. 
Thomas'  own  division,  which  he  had  left  at  Decherd,  tempo 
rarily  under  the  charge  of  General  Schoepf,  came  up  in  a  few 
days,  swelling  his  command  to  nearly  one-half  of  the  effective 
force  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  On  the  20th,  the  Thirty-sixth 
Indiana,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  and 
Mendenhall's  Battery  marched  to  Smithville,  northward  about 
eighteen  miles,  to  look  after  a  body  of  rebels  reported  to  be  in 
that  vicinity.  The  Sixth  Ohio  staid  behind,  and  during  its 
few  remaining  days  at  ^cMinnville,  nearly  the  entire  regi 
ment  was  kept  on  picket  or  other  guard  duty.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Anderson,  meanwhile,  was  at  his  quarters  sick.  On 
the  21st,  the  railroad  was  re-opened,  and,  for  the  first  time  in 
more  than  six  months  a  train  of  cars  arrived  from  Tullahoma. 
Next  day,  telegraphic  communication  was  established  by  the 
same  route,  and  the  Fifty-first  Ohio  moved  on  another  guer 
rilla  hunting  expedition  toward  Sparta. 

For  a  fortnight  past,  the  air  had  been  full  of  rumors  in  re 
gard  to  Bragg's  aggressive  purposes,  developing  a  wide-spread 
feeling,  not  of  insecurity  precisely,  but  unmistakably  one  of 
uncertainty  and  suspense.  Buell,  in  truth,  was  fully  apprized 
of  the  heavy  concentration  which  the  enemy  had  made  in  the 
vicinity  of  Chattanooga,  and,  with  straitened  means  which 
were  daily  wasting,  found  himself  placed  in  a  purely  defensive 
attitude.  On  the  24th  of  August,  Bragg  crossed  the  Tennessee 
in  force,  at  Harrison's,  a  few  miles  above  Chattanooga,  and 
began  a  rapid  march  northward,  masking  it,  however,  by  heavy 
cavalry  demonstrations,  which,  for  a  few  days,  left  it  in  doubt 


M  MINNVILLE.  339 

whether  hie  objective  was  Nashville,  or  some  point  still  further 
in  the  rear  of  Buell's  army. 

Seven  companies  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  been  on  picket  duty 
for  two  days,  when,  on  the  night  of  the  23d,  orders  reached 
McM'mnville  for  a  concentration  of  Thomas7  forces  with  other 
divisions,  at  Altamont,  twenty  odd  miles  south-east,  there  to 
contest  the  enemy's  anticipated  advance  on  Nashville.  Simul 
taneously,  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  was  reported  within 
seventeen  miles  of  McMinnville,  moving  directly  upon  it,  and 
General  Thomas  decided  to  evacuate  the  post  as  speedily  as 
possible.  "At  one  o'clock  this  morning,"  says  a  Sixth  Ohio 
diary,  under  date  of  Sunday,  August  24th,  "orders  were  sent 
us  to  call  in  our  pickets,  and  return  immediately  to  camp,  but 
they  were  soon  afterward  modified,  to  the  effect  that  we  should 
remain  at  our  posts  until  further  orders.  Being  finally  recalled 
at  7  A.  M.,  we  hurried  back  to  town.  There  every  thing  was 
in  motion,  and  in  haste  at  that.  The  court-house  square  and 
the  streets  leading  to  it  were  blocked  with  long  trains  of  wagons 
and  ambulances,  cavalry  detachments,  artillery,  etc.;  wagons 
were  being  loaded,  the  sick  taken  to  the  cars  just  arrived  from 
Tullahoma,  and  officers  and  aids  hurrying  to  and  fro  on  all 
sides — every  thing,  in  fact,  indicated  some  sudden  and  unex 
pected  emergency.  We  were  not  long  in  discovering  what 
these  preparations  meant,  but,  though  hurried,  the  evacuation 
was  well  conducted,  with  comparatively  little  confusion.  All 
our  baggage  and  stores  were  removed,  except  a  small  quantity 
of  forage,  which  was  burned  by  the  General's  order,  as  were 
also  three  or  four  broken-down  wagons  and  ambulances.  The 
rest  of  our  division  having  moved  at  daylight  in  another  direc 
tion,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  detailed  to  guard  a  division  train  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  wagons  back  to  Murfreesboro',  and,  un 
der  a  scorching  sun,  started  accordingly,  at  10  A.  M.  It  was 


340  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ten  o'clock  at  night  before  the  rear  of  the  train  reached  Wood- 
bury,  by  which  time  I  was  completely  worn  out.  Without 
stopping  to  get  supper,  or  even  to  wash,  all  dust-begrimed 
and  dirty  as  I  was,  I  lay  down  upon  my  India-rubber 
blanket,  without  any  covering,  and  slept  till  wakened  by  re 
veille,  at  three  o'clock  next  morning."  The  regiment  was 
now  in  charge  of  Major  Christopher,  Lieutenant-Colonel  An 
derson,  who  was  still  sick,  having  gone  to  Murfreesboro'  by 
rail. 

August  25th. — The  train  reached  Murfreesboro'  about  sun 
down,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  went  into  bivouac  on  the  hill-side 
facing  the  burnt  depot,  south  of  town.  Company  K  was  de 
tailed  as  guard  over  a  party  of  forty-two  prisoners  at  the  court 
house,  who  were  next  day  sent  to  Nashville  in  charge  of  a 
platoon  under  Lieutenant  Thatcher. 

August  26th. — "  We  pitched  a  regular  camp,"  says  a  diary, 
"hi  the  field  adjoining  our  last  night's  bivouac,  and  in  line 
with  the  Second  Kentucky,  whence  we  have  to  go  nearly 
half  a  mile  for  water.  Rumors  abound  respecting  the  move 
ments  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  of  our  own  forces  from  Hunts- 
ville  -and  McMinnville,  but  little  appears  to  be  known  with 
certainty." 

August  27th. — "We  are  looking  for  an  attack  hourly,  as 
Forrest  is  said  to  be  at  Woodbury  with  an  overwhelming  force 
of  rebels.  About  2  P.  M.,  a  dash  was  made  on  our  pickets  on 
the  Shelbyville  turnpike,  and  fifteen  or  twenty  shots  were  fired 
in  quick  succession,  whereupon  long-roll  was  beaten  and  our 
whole  force  put  under  arms.  Some  tall  scampering  was  done; 
one  cavalryman,  who  had  been  bathing  at  the  creek,  rode  in  at 
a  gallop,  perfectly  naked.  A  heavy  detail  was  made  from  the 
Sixth  Ohio  to  assist  in  the  construction  of  rifle-pits ;  and,  by 
order  of  Colonel  Hazen,  post  commander,  contrabands  are  en- 


McMINNVILLE.  341 

gaged  in  felling  trees  to  answer  the  purpose  of  an  abattis,  in 
front  of  our  color-lines."  At  this  date  the  troops  were  put 
upon  half-rations,  and  so  continued  for  just  one  month,  or 
until  they  reached  West  Point,  within  one  day's  march  of 
Louisville. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  remained  at  Murfreesboro'  until  the  30th. 
Meantime  the  Fourth  Division  had  returned  to  McMinnville 
from  Altamont,  and,  on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  the  Tenth 
Brigade  (minus  the  Sixth,  of  course,)  marched  toward  Mur 
freesboro',  as  guards  for  a  wagon  train  dispatched  thither  for 
rations.  Next  day,  just  before  descending  the  hill  to  Wood- 
bury,  it  was  attacked  by  Forrest,  but  repulsed  him  handsomely, 
after  several  minutes'  hot  firing,  in  which  Mendenhall's  Battery 
rendered  good  service.  On  the  30th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  rejoined 
its  brigade,  and  again  set  out  for  McMinnville,  in  rear  of  the 
train,  which  now  numbered  about  four  hundred  wagons.  The 
brigade  bivouacked  on  Cripple  Creek,  and  next  day  (Sunday) 
halted  early,  at  Woodbury.  On  the  1st  of  September,  it 
marched  fifteen  miles,  past  the  scene  of  Forrest's  defeat,  to 
within  seven  miles  of  McMinnville,  and  while  it  was  resting 
for  dinner,  the  rear  regiments,  consisting  of  the  Sixth  Ohio 
and  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  with  a  portion  of  the  train,  were 
ordered  back  to  Murfreesboro'.  Lieutenant-Colonel  John  P. 
Jackson,  of  the  latter  regiment,  being  the  ranking  officer,  took 
command  of  the  detachment  and  countermarched  it  seven  miles 
to  Logan's  farm,  for  camping.  Next  day  a  hot  march  of  nine 
teen  miles  brought  it  again  to  Cripple  Creek. 

Meantime,  a  crisis  had  arrived  in  the  conduct  of  the  cam 
paign.  On  the  27th  of  August,  Bragg  reached  Dunlap,  and, 
pushing  up  the  Sequatchie  Valley  through  Pikeville,  was  in 
Crossville,  several  miles  north  of  the  latitude  of  McMinnville, 
on  the  1st  of  September,  and,  passing  Nashville  by,  was  now 


342  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

moving  through  Sparta  in  the  direction  of  Carthage,  as  if  to 
strike  Buell's  line  of  communications  at  Gallatin  or  Bowling 
Green,  with  the  ulterior  objective  of  Louisville  itself;  which, 
indeed,  was  the  ambitious  undertaking  the  rebel  commander 
had  proposed  to  himself.  Within  a  week  from  the  time  that 
Bragg  crossed  the  Tennessee,  Buell  had  abandoned  his  whole 
line  on  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  and  was  hasten 
ing  his  divisions  northward  for  a  concentration  at  Nashville. 
Says  a  Sixth  Ohio  diary :  "  When  we  reached  Murfreesboro',  at 
8  A.  M.,  (on  the  3d  of  September,)  we  found  the  town  alive 
with  bustle  and  excitement,  and  crowded  with  soldiers.  Crit- 
tenden's  and  Rousseau's  divisions  are  already  here,  of  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  with  these  is  at  least  one  from  the 
Army  of  the  Mississippi,  commanded  by  General  R.  B.  Mitch 
ell.  Troops  are  arriving  hourly,  and  a  rapid  falling  back  on 
Nashville,  if  not  indeed  still  further,  is  evidently  in  prog 
ress.  This  is  our  first  experience  in  retreating,  and  God  grant 
it  may  be  our  last.  The  news  from  other  quarters  is  as  bad 
as  what  we  have  to  send  from  here:  Nelson's  defeat  and  se 
vere  wounding  on  the  30th  ultimo,  at  Richmond,  Kentucky, 
in  a  battle  with  Kirby  Smith  ;  movements  the  most  threaten 
ing  on  the  part  of  the  rebels,  throughout  Kentucky  and  even 
against  Cincinnati;  the  defeat  of  the  eastern  army  in  a  second 
battle  at  Bull  Run ;  and  desperate  fighting  still  in  progress  at 
Washington,  as  yet  without  definite  results.  For  one,  I  must 
confess  that  these  things  depress  me  greatly ." 

The  Sixth  Ohio  encamped  on  the  old  grounds  of  the  Ninth 
Michigan,  in  a  beautiful  grove  directly  east  of  the  town,  where, 
on  the  4th  of  September,  it  was  mustered  for  the  31st  of  Au 
gust.  On  the  same  day  a  member  of  Company  G  was  danger 
ously  stabbed  in  a  quarrel  with  a  comrade,  and  had  to  be  left 
in  hospital  at  Murfreesboro',  where  the  rebels  paroled  him 


McMINNVILLE.  343 

weeks  afterward,  and  sent  him  through  the  lines  to  receive  his 
discharge  at  Nashville.  From  the  4th  of  September  to  the 
7th  of  November  no  orders  are  recorded  in  the  regimental 
books,  which  fact  is  a  mute  but  expressive  commentary  on  the 
service  performed  during  this  period  of  almost  incessant  march 
ing  and  great  privations. 

Although  notified,  at  8  P.  M.,  to  hold  itself  in  readiness  to 
march  at  a  moment's  notice,  the  regiment  was  permitted  to 
pass  the  night  of  the  4th  in  quiet.  Next  morning  the  Fourth 
Division  came  in  from  McMinnville,  and  at  2  P.  M.  took  up 
its  line  of  march  for  Nashville,  halting  for  the  night  at  the 
Stone  River  ford,  two  miles  north  of  Murfreesboro',  where  a 
partial  supply  of  clothing  was  issued  the  troops.  On  the  6th, 
so  much  time  was  lost  in  waiting  upon  the  movements  of  the 
trains  that  a  march  of  fourteen  hours  in  the  sun  and  dust 
brought  it  no  further  than  Lavergne,  just  half-way  to  Nash 
ville.  "Water  was  very  scarce,"  says  one  account,  "and  as 
we  had  gone  into  camp  rather  late,  it  was  quite  ten  o'clock, 
when,  after  supper,  I  got  back  with  my  canteen  and  tin-cup 
full,  for  the  next  morning's  breakfast.  Soon  after  halting  we 
learned  that  the  rebels  before  Washington  had  forced  our  troops 
back  to  within  eight  miles  of  the  capital,  and  that  Stonewall 
Jackson  was  in  Maryland,  with  a  large  army,  moving  rapidly 
on  Baltimore ;  also,  that  a  small  train  had  been  captured  within 
ten  miles  of  Cincinnati,  and  an  attack  on  that  city  was  hourly 
expected.  There  was  nothing  in  all  this  to  cheer  a  weary, 
foot-sore,  half-sick  soldier,  and  I  lay  down  to  sleep  with  a 
heavier  load  on  my  spirits  than  I  had  borne  for  long,  long 
months." 

On  Sunday,  the  7th,  the  division  marched  fourteen  miles,  to 
the  suburbs  of  Nashville,  where  the  Sixth  Ohio  bivouacked 
in  an  old  corn-field,  rich  in  a  luxuriant  crop  of  rag- weeds. 


344  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Thomas'  division  this  day  was  bringing  up  the  rear  from 
Murfreesboro',  the  road  in  which  direction  was  still  blocked 
by  miles  of  trains  and  artillery;  other  divisions,  including 
those  of  Crittenden  and  Rousseau,  were  moving  across  the  Cum 
berland,  and  to  the  vicinity  of  Edgefield  Junction,  nine  miles 
beyond. 


THE   RACE   WITH    BRAGG   FOR   LOUISVILLE.  345 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE  RACE  WITH  BRAGG  FOR  LOUISVILLE. 

(SEPTEMBER  8-30,  1862.) 

~O>  R  A  GG'S  advance  crossed  the  Kentucky  State  line  en  route 
-*-*  for  Glasgow,  on  the  5th  of  September,  at  which  date. 
BuelFs  array  was  only  toiling  along  the  turnpike  between  Mur- 
freesboro'  and  Nashville.  Railroad  communication  with  the 
north  had  been  almost  hopelessly  severed,  by  Morgan's  partial 
destruction  of  the  tunnel  near  Gallatin,  and  other  raiding  op 
erations,  and  the  commissariat  contained  scarcely  ten  days' 
rations  for  the  army.  Leaving  the  two  small  divisions  of 
Generals  Palmer  and  Negley,  with  several  hundred  convales 
cents,  (capable  of  performing  garrison  duty,  though  unfit  for  a 
long  and  severe  march,)  to  hold  the  important  post  of  Nash 
ville,  Buell  at  once  pushed  forward  his  remaining  six  divisions 
in  the  direction  of  Bowling  Green. 

September  8th. — The  baggage  of  the  Fourth  Division  was 
stored  during  the  preceding  night  at  Nashville,  and  for  the 
next  two  months  the  troops  had  neither  tents  nor  knapsacks, 
nor  any  other  clothing  than  that  which  they  carried  on  their 
backs.  Starting  at  3  A.  M.,  the  division  marched  through 
Nashville,  and  over  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Cumberland, 
before  it  was  fairly  light,  and  bivouacked  at  night-fall  near 
Edgefield  Junction,  ten  miles  from  its  last  camping  place,  hav- 


346  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ing  rested  seven  hours  at  noon  to  allow  Crittenden  to  get 
ahead.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  had  rejoined  the  Sixth 
Ohio  at  Nashville.  In  this  position  the  division  lay  expect 
antly  for  two  days  more.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  10th,  there 
was  an  alarm,  occasioned  by  an  attack  upon  a  wagon  train  a 
few  miles  distant,  and  several  regiments  were  kept  under  arms 
until  dark. 

September  llth. — The  division  marched  at  6  A.  M.,  climbed 
a  long  hill,  and  at  noon  halted  at  Tyree  Springs,  twelve  miles 
from  Edgefield  Junction,  where  four  companies  of  Michigan 
cavalry  had  just  dispersed  a  party  of  rebels,  after  a  sharp  skir 
mish.  McCook  coming  up  about  4  P.  M.,  Ammen's  division 
was  obliged  to  move  forward,  and  made  a  night  march  of  eight 
more  miles  before  it  again  found  water. 

September  12th. — Starting  late,  the  division  made  a  tedious 
march  of  nine  miles  to  Mitchellsville,  just  within  the  Tennes 
see  State  line,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  being  sent  forward  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  on  picket,  found  itself  once  more  in  Kentucky. 
General  Buell  and  staif  accompanied  the  Fourth  Division  dur 
ing  this  day  and  most  of  the  next.  His  appearance  is  thus 
described  by  a  corporal  of  the  Sixth  Ohio :  "  He  wore  an  un 
dress  uniform,  with  a  straw  hat  and  dusty  jacket;  neither 
sword  nor  belt  encumbered  his  person.  He  looked  moody  and 
solitary  amid  the  thousands  of  his  soldiers,  whom  he  passed 
without  even  appearing  to  notice  their  presence.  We  never 
did  cheer  him,  even  when  we  had  perfect  confidence  in  him,  as 
we  had  until  a  few  weeks  ago ;  and  now  as  he  rode  by  us, 
stern,  silent,  care-worn,  he  might  as  well  have  been  James' 
'  solitary  horseman/  for  all  the  recognition  he  received.  Yet 
he  looked  twice  the  soldier  that  Halleck  used  to,  jogging 
along  the  lines  at  Corinth,  with  a  tall  army  hat  on,  minus  its 
cord  and  tassel,  his  head  thrown  forward,  his  shoulders  up, 


THE   RACE   WITH   BRAGG    FOR    LOUISVILLE.  347 

and  elbows  jerking  about ;  if  he  had  only  had  a  pair  of  sad 
dle-bags,  'Old  Brains'  would  have  been  the  beau  ideal  of  a 
country  doctor." 

September  13th. — The  Fourth  Division  started  at  4  A.  M., 
with  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  advance,  passed  through  Franklin 
about  8  A.  M.,  and  at  sunset  reached  Cave  Mill,  two  and  a 
half  miles  from  Bowling  Green,  after  a  dusty  march  of  twenty- 
five  miles,  which,  however,  had  been  broken  by  two  consider 
able  rests,  occasioned  by  running  into  the  rear  of  Crittenden's 
command.  Says  a  diary  :  "  Many  of  our  men  marched  all  day 
on  less  than  one  full  meal,  and  even  the  best-provided  had  to 
stint  themselves  somewhat.  Arrived  at  Bowling  Green  at 
last — the  haven  to  which  for  the  last  week  we  have  been  anx 
iously  looking  forward  as  a  place  of  temporary  rest  and  com 
fort,  and,  most  of  all,  of  cleanliness — it  did  grate  terribly,  in 
our  hungry,  tired,  and  travel-sore  condition,  to  have  it  an 
nounced  immediately  upon  our  stacking  arms,  '  Get  your  sup 
pers  at  once,  and  secure  all  the  rest  you  can :  we  shall  march 
again  at  one  in  the  morning ! '  However,  the  order  was  mod 
ified  before  tattoo,  to  a  start  at  five.  Our  bivouac  was  beside 
an  immense  spring  in  a  deep  gulch,  where  the  stream,  after 
flowing  a  swift,  cold  current  for  one  hundred  yards,  loses  itself 
in  a  great  cave,  in  which  a  mill  formerly  stood." 

Next  day  the  division  removed  one  and  a  half  miles  nearer 
Bowling  Green,  where  the  Tenth  Brigade  lay  in  an  open  field 
for  three  days  more.  Water  was  exceedingly  scarce,  and  the 
men  had  resort  to  ponds — sometimes  in  common  with  the  mule 
teams — and  a  small  subterranean  stream,  which  was  reached  by 
descending  a  cave  and  groping  their  way  some  distance  in  total 
darkness.  On  the  15th,  half  rations  of  flour,  previously  col 
lected  from  the  mills  in  the  vicinity,  were  issued,  instead  of 
hard-tack.  This  continued  until  the  troops  reached  West 


348  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Point,  and,  as  they  had  no  salt,  no  leaven  of  any  kind,  and  no 
cooking  utensils,  the  preparation  of  their  stinted  allowance  in 
convenienced  and  sometimes  really  distressed  them.  Green 
corn,  upon  which  they  had  luxuriated  during  the  McMinnville 
period,  was  now  no  longer  green;  but  they  made  "graters"  by 
punching  holes  through  their  tin-plates  with  bayonets,  and  by 
this  means  reducing  the  ripening  ears  to  a  kind  of  fine  hominy, 
eked  out  their  scanty  supplies,  with  mush  and  corn-pones,  the 
former  made  in  their  tin-cups  and  the  latter  baked  on  flat 
stones.  Individual  foraging  became  reputable,  because  a  ne 
cessity  ;  and  so,  by  one  expedient  and  another,  Buell's  army 
kept  in  pretty  good  stomach,  spite  of  half-rations,  and  when  it 
heard  an  apocryphal  sort  of  story  of  Bragg's  famishing  hosts 
having  received  a  distribution  of  pumpkins  in  lieu  of  regu 
lar  rations,  it  pitied  them,  rebels  as  they  were,  from  the  bottom 
of  its  heart. 

On  the  16th,  General  Ammen  was  relieved  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  Fourth  Division,  but  accompanied  it  to  Louis 
ville,  in  command  of  the  Twenty-second  Brigade. 

Continued  ill  health  unfitting  him  for  the  exigencies  of  ac 
tive  campaigning,  General  Ammen  was  relieved  from  duty 
with  the  army,  on  the  27th  of  September,  and  granted  a  few 
weeks'  rest.  On  the  30th  of  October  (1862),  he  assumed 
command  at  Covington,  Kentucky,  and,  on  the  10th  of  De 
cember,  of  Camp  Dennison.  From  the  14th  of  January  to 
the  10th  of  April,  1863,  he  was  in  charge  of  Camp  Douglas, 
at  Chicago,  whence  he  was  transferred  to  the  command  of  the 
District  of  Illinois,  with  head-quarters  at  Springfield.  During 
the  summer  and  fall  of  that  year,  and  while  occupying  this 
position,  he  performed  valuable  service  in  organizing  and  dis 
patching  needed  reinforcements  to  the  front,  and  also  in  con- 


THE   EACE   WITH   BEAGG   FOE   LOUISVILLE.  349 

ducting  various  important  courts-martial,  for  which  descrip 
tions  of  duty  he  was  eminently  fitted  by  habits  of  trained 
thought,  no  less  than  by  the  stores  of  routine  knowledge  ac 
quired  at  West  Point.  In  the  latter  part  of  December,  1863, 
he  again  took  a  command  in  the  field,  and  for  the  next  month 
was  stationed  at  Camp  Burnside,  on  the  Cumberland  River,  in 
Kentucky.  Recalled  to  Cincinnati,  to  preside  over  -one  of  the 
most  memorable  courts-martial  ever  held  in  the  department, 
he  was  detained  there  until  the  24th  of  March,  1864,  when  he 
once  more  proceeded  to  the  front,  and  on  the  llth  of  April 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Fourth  Division  of  the  Twenty- 
third  Army  Corps  (which  included  that  of  the  District  of  East 
Tennessee,)  with  head-quarters  at  Knoxville.  Throughout  the 
remainder  of  that  most  eventful  year,  he  held  East  Tennessee 
with  a  comparatively  small  force,  and  although  at  times  hard 
bestead  by  rebel  raiding  expeditions,  under  Wheeler,  Morgan, 
and  others,  by  the  exercise  of  tireless  vigilance  and  energy  he 
uniformly  succeeded  in  thwarting  their  plans,  so  far  as  to  pre 
vent  them  from  ever  gaining  any  decided  or  permanent  advan 
tage.  Of  the  numberless  minor  engagements  fought  by  the 
various  detachments  of  his  forces,  one  of  the  principal  was  at 
Sweetwater,  where  his  assistant  adjutant-general,  Major  (then 
Lieutenant)  N.  A.  Reed,  Jr.,  greatly  distinguished  himself. 

"  While  at  Knoxville,  General  Ammen  had  many  chances  to 
observe  the  action  of  quasi  Union  men,  in  their  efforts  to  sup 
ply  the  rebels  with  provisions.  Their  most  approved  plan  was 
to  deceive  Parson  Brownlow  (then  Treasury  Agent  at  Knox 
ville),  get  a  permit  to  bring  'hogs  and  salt7  through  Cumber 
land  Gap,  and,  at  a  convenient  point  on  the  road,  contrive  to 
get { gobbled'  by  the  rebels.  General  Ammen,  by  his  personal 
watchfulness,  soon  put  a  stop  to  this  rascality.  At  one  time  he 
dressed  himself  as  a  common  soldier,  contrived  to  get  into  con- 


350  THE  STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

versation  with  several  of  these  '  Union  shriekers/  and  thereby 
learned  their  plans."* 

During  Hood's  invasion,  his  position  in  East  Tennessee  was 
a  critical  one,  but  Thomas  having  overwhelmingly  defeated  the 
rebel  army  at  the  battle  of  Nashville,  the  war  at  the  West  was 
practically  ended,  and,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1865,  General 
Ammen  resigned,  and  soon  afterward  returned  home.  He 
now  resides  at  "  Wyoming,"  near  Lockland  Station,  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  where  it  is  his  greatest  delight  to  dispense  the 
kindliest  of  hospitalities  to  his  old  army  friends  and  others, 
and,  especially,  to  every  member  of  the  old  Tenth  Brigade — 
officer  or  private — whose  good  fortune  it  may  be  to  renew  in 
civil  life  the  acquaintance  with  "  Uncle  Jake/'  which  was  be 
gotten  amid  circumstances  so  far  different,  in  bivouac  or  the 
crash  of  battle. 

Brigadier-General  William  Sooy  Smith,  who  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  Fourth  Division,  September  16th,  1862, 
is  a  native  of  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and,  in  the  truest  sense, 
a  self-made  man.  He  graduated  at  the  Ohio  University,  at 
Athens,  in  1849,  and  at  West  Point  four  years  later,  being 
then  twenty-three  years  of  age.  The  monotony  of  army  life 
in  time  of  peace  soon  becoming  distasteful,  he  resigned,  to  en 
gage  in  the  profession  of  civil  engineering,  which  he  followed 
for  several  years  with  great  success,  not  only  throughout  the 
United  States,  but  also  in  Canada  and  the  West  Indies.  After 
a  short  service  at  Camp  Dennison,  as  adjutant-general  upon 
the  staff  of  a  three-months'  militia  brigadier,  he  was  com 
missioned  colonel  of  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  Infantry;  fought 
gallantly  at  Carnifex  Ferry,  receiving  honorable  mention  there 
for  in  General  Rosecrans'  official  report ;  upon  the  recommend 
ation  of  General  Buell,  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of 
*"0hio  in  the  War." 


THE   RACE   WITH    BRAGG   FOR   LOUISVILLE.  351 

volunteers,  to  rank  from  April  7,  1862,  for  meritorious  serv 
ice  at  Shiloh,  where  he  commanded  a  brigade  in  Crittenden's 
division ;  succeeded  General  Mitchel  at  the  head  of  the  Third 
Division,  and  was  afterward  placed  in  command  of  several 
thousand  troops  engaged  in  re-opening  and  protecting  BuelPs 
railroad  communications,  quite  from  Bowling  Green  to  Ste 
venson  and  Decatur.  When  assigned  to  Nelson's  old  "  iron 
clad"  division — which,  he  has  since  assured  the  writer,  he 
regards  as  the  best  division  of  troops  that  he  ever  saw  in  any 
army — General  Smith  had  been  for  some  time  in  command  at 
Bowling  Green,  under  orders  from  Buell  to  defend  it  to  the 
last.  His  new  command  found  him  a  gentleman  of  great 
sociability  and  culture,  as  well  as  a  patriotic  soldier. 

While  the  Fourth  Division  lay  at  Bowling  Green,  and  the 
rear-guard  of  the  array  was  closing  up  on  that  post,  the  trag 
edy  of  Colonel  Wilder's  capture,  with  over  four  thousand  men, 
was  taking  place  at  Munfordville,  or,  more  properly,  at 
Woodsonville.  Bragg  had  thus  succeeded  in  throwing  his 
army  directly  between  BuelFs  retreating  columns  and  Louis 
ville,  and,  although  Wilder's  gallant  resistance  had  cost  him 
two  days  of  precious  time,  he  was  still  forty-eight  hours'  march 
ahead  of  his  antagonist  in  the  race  for  that  city.  Nothing 
but  his  own  stupidity  and  lack  of  nerve  prevented  him  from 
bivouacking,  within  ten  days  from  that  date,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio,  though  it  must  be  said  that,  in  no  event,  could  he 
have  maintained  his  position  there.  On  the  16th  of  Septem 
ber,  Buell  resumed  his  northward  march,  moving  with  a  ce 
lerity  and  precision  really  admirable,  all  the  attending  circum 
stances  taken  into  consideration.  The  bulk  of  his  immense 
trains,  or  about  twelve  miles  of  wagons,  were  left  at  Bowling 
Green,  to  be  brought  up  by  a  more  westerly,  and  therefore  a 


352  THE   STOEY    OF    A   REGIMENT. 

safer,  route,  under  convoy  of  a  perfect  screen  of  cavalry,  which 
object  was  effected  in  due  time  without  the  loss  of  a  single 
wagon. 

September  17th. — Following  Rousseau  and  Crittenden,  the 
Fourth  Division  started  at  5  A.  M.,  on  the  Munfordville 
turnpike,  marched  through  Bowling  Green,  and  across  Barren 
River  by  a  pontoon  bridge,  and,  after  proceeding  eighteen 
miles,  at  6  P.  M.  reached  Dripping  Springs,  sixteen  miles  from 
Bowling  Green.  Here  Rousseau's  and  Smith's  divisions  took 
a  cross-road — a  mere  lane — leading  off  on  the  right  toward 
Glasgow,  where  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  was  reported  to 
be,  and  two  hours  after  dark  went  into  bivouac  about  three 
miles  from  Dripping  Springs,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  rain. 
During  the  day  there  was  frequent  light  skirmishing  with  rebel 
cavalry,  whose  camping  places  of  the  night  before  were  passed 
almost  every  mile. 

September  18th. — The  provision  train  came  up  about  9  A. 
M.,  and  the  Fourth  Division  received  half-rations  for  four 
days,  which  the  hungry  troops  had  scarcely  had  time  to  begin 
disposing  of,  when  they  were  hurried  into  line,  and  began  a 
slow  and  tedious  march  of  twelve  miles  to  strike  the  turnpike 
at  Prewitt's  Knob.  This  they  did  about  8  P.  M.,  and  found 
the  whole  of  BuelFs  army  there  concentrated.  Says  a  diary  : 
"  It  was  a  magnificent  sight  to  look  down  upon  in  the  dark 
ness — thousands  of  camp-fires  and  swarms  of  soldiers,  all  up 
and  down  the  valley  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach." 

September  19th. — Before  daylight,  Buell  began  posting  his 
army  in  line  of  battle,  the  enemy  having  been  found  in  front 
in  force.  The  Fourth  Division  moved  four  miles  toward  the 
Glasgow  turnpike,  passing  four  paroled  regiments  from  Mun 
fordville,  and  took  position  near  the  right  of  the  line.  Active 
skirmishing  was  kept  up  all  day  along  the  entire  front.  Shar- 


THE   RACE   WITH    BRAGG    FOR   LOUISVILLE.  353 

ing  in  what  was  unmistakably  the  general  desire  of  the  men, 
many  of  the  officers  were  anxious  to  attack  the  enemy,  who 
had  been  followed  with  such  labor  and  hardship,  across  one 
State  and  portions  of  two  more,  and  to  strike  the  blow,  which, 
if  successful,  mu,st  have  proved  his  ruin ;  but  Buell  deemed  the 
hazard  too  great,  and  the  majority  of  his  division  commanders 
acquiesced  in  the  decision.  For  two  and  a  half  days  the  situa 
tion  remained  unchanged ;  then  it  \vas  discovered  that  Bragg 
had  withdrawn  across  Green  River,  and  Buell  followed  at 
once. 

September  21st,  Sunday. — At  sunset  the  Fourth  Division 
marched  for  the  Glasgow  turnpike  at  Bear  Wallow,  followed 
it  three  miles,  and  crossing  in  the  night,  on  a  horrible  road  to 
ward  Woodsonville,  chiefly  through  woods,  about  midnight 
went  into  bivouac,  twelve  miles  from  its  starting  place. 

September  22d. — Troops  continued  moving  forward  rapidly, 
and  the  advance  had  some  skirmishing.  Smith's  division  re 
mained  under  arms  all  day,  but,  being  almost  the  rear  of  the 
army,  did  not  move  until  evening,  and  then  merely  changed 
camp  three  miles  to  \Yoodsonville,  where  the  troops  had  an  op 
portunity  of  examining  the  fort,  etc.,  that  Colonel  Wilder  had 
so  gallantly  defended. 

September  23d. — Fording  Green  River  at  sunrise,  the  divis 
ion  marched  through  Munfordville,  where  were  several  rebel 
hospitals,  with  yellow  flags  flying,  halted  for  dinner  at  Bacon 
Creek,  and  an  hour  after  dark  encamped  von  the  old  site  of 
Camp  Nevin,  on  Nolin  Creek,  after  a  hot  day's  march  of 
twenty  miles.  Numerous  squads  of  paroled  rebels,  captured 
by  the  advance  divisions,  were  passed  during  the  day.  Bragg, 
at  night,  was  reported  within  two  days'  march  of  Louisville. 
He  was  no  longer  between  Buell  and  that  city,  however,  hav 
ing  gone  off  to  Bardstown,  in  contemplation  of  a  junction  with 
23 


354  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMEXT. 

Kirby  Smith,  and,  in  reality,  was  almost  at  the  end  of  his 
tether. 

September  24th. — A  rapid  march  of  twenty-three  miles, 
through  Elizabethtown,  and  over  the  old  familiar  scenes  be 
yond,  brought  the  Fourth  Division,  in  good  season,  to  within 
ten  miles  of  West  Point.  "  Excepting  sore  feet,"  says  a  Sixth 
Ohio  diary,  "  we  are  in  good  condition,  and  all  feel  confident 
of  bagging  Mr.  Bragg  and  his  fellow  rebs." 

September  25th. — The  division  reached  West  Point  early; 
there  it  waited  eight  hours  for  the  troops  and  trains  in  ad 
vance  to  get  over,  then  crossed  Salt  River  on  a  pontoon 
bridge,  and  shortly  after  dark  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio,  two  miles  toward  Louisville.  "  We  had  full  rations  is 
sued  us  again  to-day,"  says  another  diary,  "  with  crackers  in 
stead  of  flour.  Sweeter  morsel  I  never  tasted  than  the  first 
mouthful  of  hard-tack  this  morning.  Good-by  gunpowder 
biscuits  and  ramrod  rolls !  The  very  thought  of  you  '  makes 
me  disgust/  as  Don  Pedro  says." 

September  26th. — By  noon,  the  division  was  in  Louisville, 
twenty  miles  from  West  Point — like  the  rest  of  the  army, 
covered  with  dust  and  travel-stained,  ragged,  foot-sore,  and  in 
a  decidedly  rebellious  frame  of  mind  toward  General  Buell, 
whom  thousands  openly  denounced  as  a  traitor  in  direct  col 
lusion  writh  General  Bragg,  his  brother-in-law.  It  was 
marched  two  miles  further,  through  the  city,  to  "  Goose  Is 
land/'  between  the,  canal  and  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  where  for 
four  days  the  Sixth  Ohio  lay  in  a  potato-field,  (which  was  a 
field  of  potatoes  on  its  arrival  there,  and  perhaps  for  one  hour 
longer),  was  duly  inspected  on  Sunday,  the  28th,  and  next  day 
received  the  supply  of  clothing  which  it  so  much  needed.  It 
luxuriated  immensely  in  its  unlimited  facilities  for  bathing  in 
the  Ohio,  and  was  visited  by  Colonel  Bosley  and  other  friends 


THE   EACE   TVITH   BRAGG    FOR   LOUISVILLE.  355 

from  Cincinnati ;  in  addition  to  which,  many  of  its  members 
found  old  acquaintances  in  Louisville. 

Colonel  Bosley  had  been  honorably  discharged  (though  not 
of  his  own  election)  on  account  of  physical  disability,  to  date 
from  the  preceding  19th  of  August.  He  died  at  the  house  of 
his  brother,  in  Cincinnati,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1866,  after 
great  suffering  from  the  disease  which  had  been  gradually  un 
dermining  his  constitution  for  years — consumption — and  is 
now  buried  at  Spring  Grove.  He  was  an  excellent  drill-mas 
ter,  and  had  many  warmly-attached  friends,  especially  among 
the  old  members  of  the  Guthrie  Grey  organization.  He  was 
unmarried. 

A  resume  of  the  service  performed  by  the  Sixth  Ohio,  from 
the  4th  of  June,  when  the  Fourth  Division  left  Corinth,  to  the 
26th  of  September  (1862),  when  it  reached  Louisville,  shows 
that  during  these  one  hundred  and  fifteen  days  it  marched  seven 
hundred  and  thirty  miles,  without  including  its  trip  by  rail  to 
Murfreesboro',  or  a  vast  amount  of  picket  and  other  duty,  on 
which  portions  of  the  regiment  only  were  engaged.  During 
the  thirty-four  days  embraced  between  the  24th  of  August, 
which  was  the  date  of  the  first  evacuation  of  McMinnville,  to 
the  26th  of  September,  inclusive,  it  marched  three  hundred 
and  sixty-three  miles,  and  was  twenty-nine  days. on  half-rations. 

At  the  close  of  September,  Surgeon  Stephens  had  been  ab 
sent  from  the  regiment  for  several  months,  or  quite  since  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth,  having  reached  Murfreesboro'  a  day  or 
two  after  the  division  moved  to  McMinnville,  and  been  placed 
in  charge  of  Soule  General  Hospital,  and  afterward  receiving  a 
detail  for  similar  duty  at  Nashville.  Captain  Erwin  had  so 
far  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his  wound  as  to  have  per- 


356  THE   STORY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

formed  valuable  service  on  the  staff  of  General  Nelson  at 
Louisville,  but  was  still  unable  to  take  the  field.  Meantime, 
he  was  recruiting  for  the  regiment  in  Cincinnati.  First  Lieu 
tenant  Southgate  had  been  on  duty  at  General  Ammen's  head 
quarters,  as  aid-de-camp,  for  several  weeks.  First  Lieutenants 
Morris  and  Morgan  had  been  left  at  Nashville,  sick.  The 
latter  resigned,  to  date  from  September  llth,  returned  to  Cin 
cinnati,  and  is  now  in  business  there.  On  the  15th  of  Septem 
ber,  Second  Lieutenant  Anderson  was  appointed  assistant 
adjutant-general  of  volunteers,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  for 
Brigadier-General  Terrill,  who  had  just  received  his  thrice-de 
served  promotion  from  the  command  of  a  battery.  Captain  An 
derson  remained  in  service  until  the  beginning  of  1864,  hold 
ing  a  position,  during  most  of  the  intervening  time,  on  the 
staff  of  General  Burnside,  commanding  the  Department  of  the 
Ohio.  He  was  an  exceedingly  efficient  and  popular  staff  officer, 
with  a  more  than  ordinary  range  of  talent.  He  is  now  resid 
ing  near  Cincinnati,  where  he  is  extensively  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  native  wines,  and  the  kindred  pursuits  of  hor 
ticulture.  Lieutenant  Gilman,  though  still  a  prisoner  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  was  promoted  to  a  second  lieutenancy 
some  time  during  September,  and  his  name  transferred  to  the 
rolls  of  Company  A.  Second  Lieutenant  Gettier  accompanied 
the  regiment  to  Louisville,  but  had  no  command,  and  soon 
afterward  his  connection  with  the  army  ceased. 

The  following  were  the  officers  on  duty  with  the  Sixth  Ohio, 
who  took  part  in  "the  Kentucky  campaign,"  in  the  fall  of 
1862,  including  the  march  to  Louisville,  the  expulsion  of 
Bragg  from  Kentucky,  and  the  return  to  Nashville :  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Anderson,  Major  Christopher,  Quartermaster 
Shoemaker,  Assistant  Surgeon  Ames,  and  Acting  Adjutant 
Williams;  Captains  Tinker,  Russell,  McAlpin,  Westcott,  and 


THE   RACE   WITH   BRAGG    FOR   LOUISVILLE.  357 

Brutton  (the  latter  absented  himself  at  Louisville  and  did  not 
make  the  return  march  southward) ;  First  Lieutenants  Getty, 
Russell,  Donovan,  and  Thatcher ;  and  Second  Lieutenants  West 
and  Choate,  the  latter  of  whom  was  left  at  Louisville,  sick,  on 
the  1st  of  October.  The  number  of  line  officers  "  present  for 
duty  "  having  become  so  greatly  reduced — principally  from  res 
ignations  and  details  for  staff  duty,  as  noted  in  preceding  chap 
ters — it  was  found  necessary  to  anticipate  the  promotions  of  the 
following  non-commissioned  officers,  so  far  as  to  devolve  upon 
them  the  ordinary  duties  of  second  lieutenants,  namely :  Ser 
geant-Major  Irwin,  and  First  Sergeants  Kestner,  Holmes,  Fos 
ter,  Antram,  and  Meline. 


358  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 

NELSON. 

ON  the  29th  of  September  (1862),  between  the  hours  of 
eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  at  the  Gait  House, 
in  Louisville,  General  Nelson  was  shot  by  Brigadier-General 
Jefferson  C.  Davis,  of  Indiana,  with  whom  he  had  had  an  alter 
cation  a  few  minutes  before,  and  died  within  less  than  half  an 
hour.  That  very  forenoon  he  had  set  apart  for  the  purpose 
of  visiting  his  faithful  old  Fourth  Division,  and  with  his  own 
hand  presenting  the  Ninth  Indiana  with  a  stand  of  colors,  for 
conspicuous  gallantry  at  Shiloh  ;*  and  when  the  troops,  in  the 
midst  of  busy  and  well-pleased  preparations  for  giving  him  a 
fitting  welcome,  were  suddenly  apprized  of  the  terrible  occur 
rence  of  the  morning,  their  indignation  knew  no  bounds.  Had 
the  homicide  appeared  within  reach  of  the  Fourth  Division 
that  day,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  neither  the  re 
straints  of  discipline  nor  authority  could  have  prevented  a 
violent  and  summary  retaliation  on  the  part  of  that  infuriated 
command. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  he  was  buried.  General 
Smith  had  command  of  the  funeral  escort,  and  Lieutenant- 

*The  banner  in  question  actually  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Ninth 
Indiana,  though  not  until  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  It  bore  this 
inscription :  "  Shiloh — General  Nelson  to  the  Ninth  Regiment  Indiana  Vol 
unteers." 


NELSON.  359 

Colonel  Anderson  of  the  infantry  portion  of  it,  consisting  of 
detachments  from  each  regiment  of  the  division,  organized  as 
one  battalion  of  twelve  hundred  men.  An  exceedingly  solemn 
and  impressive  service  was  held  at  Christ  (Episcopal)  Church., 
on  Second  Street,  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Talbott,  of  Calvary 
Church,  the  minister  who  was  with  the  dying  commander  until 
his  great  soul  passed  away.  The  remains  were  then  escorted 
to  Cave  Hill  Cemetery,  whence,  after  paying  their  dead  chief 
tain  a  soldier's  last  honors,  the  weary  escort  returned  to  Louis 
ville,  reaching  camp  at  9  P.  M.  Subsequently,  General  Nel 
son's  remains  were  removed  to  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  and 
there  interred  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  on  the  21st  of 
August,  1863.*  This  is  the  locality  which  Nelson's  exertions 
made  historic,  as  the  site  of  the  first  Union  camp  organized  in 
Kentucky,  and  the  point  where  border  loyalty  crystallized  into 
action,  at  the  critical  period  when  the  State  was  fast  gravitating 
toward  secession,  through  the  treachery  of  its  executive,  under 
the  mask  of  a  quasi  neutrality.  It  was  a  fitting  spot  to  select 
for  his  last  resting-place,  who  was  "  Kentucky's  first  and  great 
est  soldier." 

\Yilliam  Nelson  was  born  on  the  27th  of  September,  1824, 
in  Maysville,  Mason  County,  Kentucky,  where  his  father  was 
an  eminent  physician,  and  his  only  sister,  now  the  wife  of 
J.  M.  Stockton,  Esq.,  is  still  living.  Of  his  two  surviving 
brothers,  one,  Anderson  D.  Nelson,  is  a  field  officer  in  the 
First  United  States  Infantry;  and  the  other,  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Nelson,  of  Indiana,  was  minister  from  the  United  States 
to  the  Court  of  Chili,  for  several  years,  during  the  administra- 

*  The  oration  delivered  on  this  occasion,  by  Rev.  D.  R.  Campbell,  LL  D., 
of  Georgetown,  Kentucky,  is  one  of  the  principal  authorities  which  the 
writer  has  consulted  in  the  preparation  of  this  chapter. 


360  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

tion  of  Presidents  Lincoln  and  Johnson.  Early  in  the  year 
1840,  William  Nelson  graduated  at  the  Naval  Academy  at 
Annapolis,  and  was  commissioned  midshipman.  The  sloop  of 
war  Yorktown,  to  which  he  was  first  attached,  soon  afterward 
joined  the  Pacific  Squadron,  where  he  remained  somewhat 
more  than  two  years,  familiarizing  himself  with  the  practical 
details  of  his  profession.  In  1843,  the  Yorktown  returned  to 
New  York,  and  Nelson,  after  a  few  months7  service  in  another 
vessel,  and  a  visit  home  while  awaiting  orders,  was  ordered  to 
Annapolis  for  examination,  with  a  view  to  promotion.  On 
the  llth  of  July,  1845,  he  received  his  commission  as  passed 
midshipman,  and  was  then  ordered  to  the  frigate  Raritan,  at 
tached  to  the  Home  Squadron,  and  the  flagship  of  Commodore 
David  Conner.  At  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz,  in  the  Mexican 
war,  where  he  commanded  one  of  the  three  guns  of  the  steamer 
Scourge,  young  Nelson  greatly  distinguished  himself  both  by 
his  personal  gallantry  and  skill  as  an  artillerist,  being  after 
ward  voted  a  sword  and  appointed  acting  master  of  the 
Scourge.  The  fact  that  in  after  life  he  made  the  science  of 
gunnery  an  especial  study  explains  one  phenomenon  that  ex 
cited  great  admiration  on  the  part  of  the  Fourth  Division  at 
Shiloh,  namely,  Nelson's  manifest  familiarity  with  artillery 
service  and  his  success  in  sighting  one  of  Ten-ill's  guns. 

Leaving  the  Scourge  in  April,  1848,  he  was  next  ordered 
to  the  steamer  Michigan,  a  one-gun  vessel  built  expressly  for 
service  on  the  lakes,  but  was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  the 
razeed  ship  of  the  line  Independence,  then  the  flagship  of  Com 
modore  Morgan,  commanding  the  Mediterranean  Squadron. 
While  on  duty  as  one  of  the  acting  masters  of  this  vsssel,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Cumberland,  a  forty-four  gun  frigate,  as 
its  only  acting  master.  He  continued  cruising  in  the  Mediterra 
nean  over  two  years,  or  until  some  time  during  the  year  1851, 


NELSON.  361 

when  he  returned  to  his  native  country  in  the  steam  frigate 
Mississippi,  which  brought  over  the  great  Hungarian  leader, 
Kossuth,  whom  he  accompanied  in  part  of  his  journey  through 
the  United  States,  and  then  returning  home  was  granted  leave 
of  absence.  On  the  19th  of  September,  1854,  having  mean 
time  made  another  short  cruise,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  master,  and  ordered  to  the  fifty- four-gun  frigate  Independ 
ence,  stationed  in  the  Pacific,  and  carrying  the  flag  of  Commo 
dore  William  Mervine.  On  the  18th  of  April,  1855,  he  was 
promoted  to  a  lieutenancy,  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
storeship  Fredonia,  stationed  in  the  bay  of  Valparaiso,  as  a 
depot  of  supplies  for  the  squadron  in  the  Pacific,  where  he 
continued  until  1857,  when  he  temporarily  joined  the  expedi 
tion  of  Commodore  Perry  to  China  and  Japan.  He  made 
many  warm  friends  while  in  Chili,  and  one  of  the  most  ap 
preciative  tributes  which  his  untimely  death  called  forth  is  that 
by  an  eminent  citizen  and  publicist  of  Santiago,  the  capital  of 
that  country.  Toward  the  close  of  1857,  Lieutenant  Nelson 
returned  home,  and  during  the  following  year  made  a  short 
cruise  on  the  frigate  Niagara,  at  the  time  that  she  was  selected  to 
carry  back  to  Africa  the  negroes  taken  from  the  steamer  Echo. 
He  was  next  ordered  to  the  sloop  Saint  Louis,  belonging  to 
the  Home  Squadron,  on  which  station  he  remained  from  the 
beginning  of  1859,  to  May,  1860,  when  he  was  ordered  home 
and  placed  on  duty  at  the  Washington  Navy-yard,  as  ord 
nance  officer. 

Lieutenant  Nelson  took  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
making  the  arrangements  necessary  to  frustrate  the  designs  of 
the  bad  and  desperate  men  who  were  plotting  to  prevent  Mr. 
Lincoln's  inauguration,  and,  if  possible,  to  seize  upon  the  Gov 
ernment,  in  the  interests  of  the  Southern  conspirators.  Shortly 
after  this,  when  the  waves  of  secession  began  to  surge  and  dash 


362  THE   STOKY   OF  A   REGIMEXT. 

against  Kentucky,  threatening  to  sweep  her  into  the  vortex  of 
rebellion,  Nelson,  strong  in  the  confidence  of  the  Government 
as  a  man  of  capacity,  energy,  and  incorruptible  patriotism,  was 
quietly  sent  to  his  native  State  to  rally  the  Union  elements,  to 
encourage  and  arm  the  loyal  Home-Guards,  to  recruit  volun 
teers,  to  establish  camps  of  instruction,  and  to  do  whatever 
else  might  be  required  in  order  to  save  the  State  from  seces 
sion,  even  to  the  extent  of  holding  and  defending  its  territory 
by  force  of  arms,  if  necessary.  This  delicate  and  difficult 
service  culminated  in  the  establishment  of  Camp  Dick  Robin 
son,  which  was  scarcely  opened,  when  the  rebels  invaded  Ken 
tucky,  as  Nelson  had  foreseen  they  would  do,  at  four  distinct 
and  commanding  points,  with  the  expectation  of  a  general 
rising  of  their  friends  throughout  the  State,  large  bodies  of 
whom  had  been  secretly  organized,  armed,  and  equipped  for 
this  very  purpose.  They  were  foiled  in  the  essential  portions 
of  their  plan  to  seize  the  State  by  a  coup  de  main,  by  the 
timely  preparations  of  the  Government,  effected  mainly  through 
the  instrumentality  of  Nelson.  His  eminent  services  were  fully 
appreciated  at  Washington,  and  on  the  16th  of  September 
(1861),  he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers, 
being  reported  on  the  Naval  Register  as  "  on  detached  service," 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  holding  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
commander.  The  wisdom  of  this  appointment  he  fully  dem 
onstrated  in  a  few  weeks  by  an  intensely  vigorous  campaign  in 
Eastern  Kentucky,  marked  by  the  successful  actions  of  Pike- 
ton,  Ivy  Mountain,  etc.,  and  the  temporary  expulsion  of  the 
rebels  under  Humphrey  Marshall  from  that  portion  of  the 
State.  One  interesting  fact  connected  with  this  campaign, 
which  has  never  before  been  made  public,  is  thus  adverted  to 
by  an  intimate  friend  of  General  Nelson,  in  a  private  letter : 
"The  conference  which  General  Nelson  had  with  Mr.  Lincoln 


NELSON.  363 

and  the  cabinet,  before  returning  to  the  West,  to  organize  his 
expedition  into  Eastern  Kentucky,  so  impressed  them  with  his 
integrity  and  great  ability  as  to  induce  the  Government  to 
place  at  his  command  a  large  amount  of  money,  and  I  am  per 
sonally  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  at  the  close  of  that  campaign 
he  turned  over  to  the  department  $ 60,000  in  gold.  No  man 
in  all  my  army  acquaintance  was  more  careful  of  public  prop 
erty,  or  could  show  a  better  balance-sheet  for  the  interest  of 
the  Government." 

Eeturning  from  Eastern  Kentucky,  Nelson  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  Fourth  Division  of  BuelFs  army,  then  just  or 
ganizing,  and  in  this  command  performed  those  great  and  sig 
nal  services  which  form  the  burden  of  many  preceding  pages 
of  this  volume.  In  a  preeminent  sense,  Nelson  was  the  savior 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  on  the  battle-field  of  Shiloh.  It 
was  his  soldierly  prevision  of  General  Grant's  peril,  his  indom 
itable  energy  in  fording  Duck  River,  and  his  promptitude  in 
the  subsequent  march  to  Savanna,  that  brought  the  Fourth 
Division — leading  the  way  for  BuelPs  whole  army — to  within 
supporting  distance  of  Pittsburg  Landing  three  days  before  the 
date  which  Grant  had  pre-arranged  for  its  transfer  to  that  po 
sition.  Who  can  contemplate,  without  a  shudder,  the  conse 
quences  that  must  almost  inevitably  have  followed  if  BuelFs 
forces  had  remained  upon  the  northern  bank  of  Duck  River 
until  the  2d  of  April,  waiting  for  the  bridge  to  be  completed — 
as  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  they  would  have  done,  but  for 
Nelson's  irrepressible  activity  and  strong  will?  or,  if  they 
had  delayed  to  concentrate  at  Waynesboro',  as  Halleck  advised 
on  the  3d  of  April,  fortunately  too  late  to  check  the  rapid 
movements  of  the  advance  division,  then  many  miles  toward 
Savanna  ?  or,  if  Nelson  had  regulated  his  march,  and,  in  effect, 
that  of  Crittenden  and  McCook,  by  the  suggestion  contained  in 


364  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

Grant's  dispatch  of  the  4th,  that  any  degree  of  haste  was  un 
necessary,  since  it  would  be  impossible  to  furnish  him  trans 
portation  up  the  river  before  the  7th  or  8th?  From  this  stand 
point,  even  more  than  by  his  superb  bearing  and  achievements 
on  the  field,  the  extent  of  Nelson's  services  are  to  be  estimated  ; 
and  the  perversion  of  historic  facts  in  regard  to  Shiloh — which 
not  merely  seeks  to  rob  General  Nelson  of  his  justly-earned 
and  brilliant  fame,  but  would  actually  make  him  a  scape-goat 
for  the  blunders  of  that  amazingly  crude  campaign  in  which 
Grant  and  Sherman  were  simply  learning  their  business,  (as 
they  did  learn  it  in  time,  and  that  most  thoroughly,) — is  a 
grievous  wrong  to  the  memory  of  a  great  soldier  and  most  loyal 
spirit.  It  is,  moreover,  decidedly  unjust  to  the  gallant  men 
whom  Nelson  commanded. 

No  commander  during  the  war  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his 
troops  in  greater  degree  than  did  General  Nelson  at  the  head 
of  the  Fourth  Division,  which  might  almost  be  said  to  have 
been  his  own  creation.  He  made  it  what  it  was,  and  that  was 
a  body  of  trained  soldiers  second,  in  no  respect,  to  any  in  the 
service.  Says  General  Buell :  "  He  was  untiring  in  his  efforts 
to  discipline  and  prepare  his  command  for  effective  service. 
This  he  accomplished  thoroughly ;  and  although  at  first  many 
of  his  officers  chafed  under  a  control  to  which  they  were  not 
accustomed,  and  which  admitted  no  compromise  between  au 
thority  and  obedience,  yet  in  the  end  they  learned  to  appreciate 
its  importance,  and  the  division  became  distinguished  for  its 
discipline  and  high  tone."  "Without  desiring  to  amplify  on 
this  point,  we  may  properly  allude,  in  passing,  to  General 
Smith's  estimate  of  the  Fourth  Division,  as  noted  elsewhere, 
and  also  quote  the  following,  from  General  Palmer's  official 
report  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River :  "  The  whole  division 
fought  like  soldiers  trained  under  the  rigid  discipline  of  the 


NELSON.  365 

lamented  Nelson ;  and  by  their  courage  proved  that  they  had 
caught  a  large  portion  of  his  heroic  and  unconquerable  spirit." 

When,  in  August  (1862),  the  enemy's  cavalry  severed  BuelPs 
communications  with  Louisville,  and  Kirby  Smith  was  about 
to  invade  Kentucky  in  force,  Nelson  was  detached  to  take 
charge  of  affairs  in  that  State,  and  meet  the  coming  storm. 
•"  No  man,"  writes  General  Buell,  "  seemed  to  me  so  suitable 
for  the  emergency  as  General  Nelson ;  and  on  the  16th  of  Au 
gust  I  ordered  him  to  repair  to  Kentucky,  organize  the  new 
troops  and  the  few  old  ones  that  were  there,  guard  against  the 
threatened  invasion,  and  re-open  our  severed  communications." 
Reaching  Louisville,  Nelson  found  that  Kentucky  had  been 
placed  in  a  new  department,  under  the  command  of  General 
Wright,  an  officer  junior  to  himself;  but,  waving  all  consider 
ations  of  rank,  at  once  addressed  himself  to  his  new  and  ardu 
ous  duties.  With  the  exception  of  the  Eighteenth  Kentucky, 
all  the  troops  in  the  department  were  raw  and  undisciplined. 
Proceeding  to  Lexington,  he  found  that  Kirby  Smith  was  ad 
vancing,  and  hastily  collected  such  fragmentary  forces  as  were 
at  hand  to  oppose  him,  not  with  a  view  to  attack,  but  to  ma 
neuver,  and  gain  time  for  making  necessary  preparations.  In 
his  absence,  however,  General  Manson  risked  and  lost  the  bat 
tle  of  Richmond.  Late  in  the  day,  Nelson  made  his  appear 
ance,  and,  with  almost  superhuman  efforts,  strove  to  rally  the 
retreating  forces,  but  in  vain.  He  was  wounded,  and  narrowly 
escaped  capture. 

His  wound,  though  painful,  proved  not  to  be  a  dangerous 
one,  and  in  a  short  time — before  he  had  recovered  from  its 
effects,  indeed — he  was  again  at  his  post,  organizing  the  new 
troops  that  were  constantly  arriving  at  Louisville  from  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  and  other  North-western  States,  and  making 
the  most  energetic  preparations  for  the  defense  of  that  city 


366  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

against  the  attack  threatened  by  Bragg.  When  Buell  reached 
Louisville,  and,  in  the  reorganization  of  his  army,  divided  it 
into  three  corps,  Nelson  was  selected  to  command  one  of  them, 
consisting  of  his  own  old  Fourth  and  two  other  divisions, 
which  afterward  constituted  the  "  left  wing,"  under  General 
T.  L.  Crittenden.  He  was  about  to  assume  the  duties  of  this 
position,  when  his  life  was  suddenly  cut  short  by  the  hand  of 
a  brother  officer  in  the  Union  army.  Undoubtedly  the  provo 
cation  was  great,  but  it  was  an  awful  retaliation ;  and  when 
we  remember  that  Davis  shot  an  unarmed  man,  going  peace 
fully  to  his  own  chamber,  none  can  justify  the  terrible  act  of 
Nelson's  taking  oif. 

General  Nelson  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  force  of  char 
acter,  and  wonderful  endowments,  both  physically  and  men 
tally.  Indomitable  will,  amazing  energy,  an  absolutely  fearless 
courage — all  the  qualities,  indeed,  which  fit  men  for  leadership 
among  their  fellows — he  possessed  in  a  preeminent  degree.  Al 
though  our  narrative  has  embodied  many  striking  illustrations 
of  these  traits  in  the  character  of  General  Nelson,  we  can  not 
forbear  adding  one  more,  in  an  anecdote  related  by  his  intimate 
friend,  Dr.  J.  Taylor  Bradford,  of  Augusta,  Kentucky:  "He 
was  a  man  of  most  powerful  intellect  and  indefatigable  perse 
verance.  I  remember  once,  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the  mountains 
in  Eastern  Kentucky,  a  native  said  to  him, f  General,  you  can't 
cross  that  mountain  with  your  teams ;  it  is  simply  impossible.' 
He  replied,  with  characteristic  emphasis,  '  By  G — ,  sir,  nothing 
is  impossible  with  these  men !  If  I  can  not  cross  it,  I  will 
tunnel  it.  We  shall  go  forward,  sir ! '  He  spliced  his  teams, 
ordered  twenty-five  men  to  each  wagon,  and  they  literally 
lifted  the  wagons  out  of  the  mud." 

Possessed  of  a  remarkably  comprehensive  mind,  and  great 


XELSOX.  367 

originality  as  well  as  grasp  of  thought,  he  was  also  a  close  ob 
server  and  thorough  student  at  every  period  of  his  life.  The 
variety  and  extent  of  his  attainments  were  very  great.  To  quote 
the  admirably-expressed  language  of  Rev.  Dr.  Campbell  on  this 
point :  "  Only  those  who  knew  Kelson  well  can  have  any  idea 
of  the  grasp  and  varied  power  of  his  great  intellect,  or  of  his 
vast  and  well-digested  stores  of  knowledge  on  almost  every 
subject  of  interest.  He  was  master  of  five  or  six  languages, 
and  had  laid  under  most  exacting  tribute  the  resources  of  his 
tory,  literature,  and  professional  science,  laid  open  to  him  by 
means  of  those  languages,  as  well  as  by  travel  and  intercourse 
with  eminent  men  of  different  countries.  He  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  all  the  leading  questions  which  have  agitated  his 
own  and  other  countries  in  modern  times.  He  had  also  this 
great  advantage  over  most  men  of  intelligence,  that  he  seemed 
never  to  forget  any  thing  of  importance  that  he  had  ever  heard, 
seen,  or  read.  He  seemed  to  be  a  living,  moving  library,  every 
map,  volume,  pamphlet,  and  page  of  which  lay  open  just  at 
the  place  any  occasion  required."  Says  Dr.  Bradford  :  "  Nel 
son  was  a  man  of  fine  perceptive  powers,  an  extensive  reader 
also,  and  a  close  student  of  the  mind  and  actions  of  every  one 
with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact.  He  knew  more  about 
the  character  and  history  of  the  prominent  men  of  this  and 
other  countries  than  any  one  I  ever  knew.  He  had  seen  more 
or  less  of  almost  every  country  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  and  ac 
quired  a  mass  of  information  that  was  a  perfect  library  of  social 
wealth.  When  he  was  in  a  good  humor  and  free  from  care 
(which,  however,  was  not  often  the  case),  he  was  the  most  genial 
and  entertaining  of  conversationalists,  holding  his  friends  spell 
bound  in  astonishment  at  the  richness  and  variety  of  his  mental 
resources."  The  testimony  of  Generals  Buell  and  Ammen  is 
of  a  similar  character.  And  Colonel  Anderson,  who  knew  him 


368  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

better  than  any  other  regimental  commander  in  the  Fourth 
Division,  has  repeatedly  declared  that  he  never  met  any  man 
who  so  deeply  impressed  him  with  the  idea  of  genius  as  did 
General  Nelson. 

"  Nor  was  Nelson,"  wrote  a  journalist  of  Louisville,  most 
truthfully,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  "  wholly  without  the  softer 
graces  of  character  or  the  gentler  tastes  of  refined  life.  Pre 
eminently  a  generous  man,  his  heart  was  as  open  to  the  appeal 
of  suffering  as  a  woman's.  Music  and  poetry  he  loved  pas 
sionately,  and  the  former,  especially,  he  comprehended  like  a 
master.  Sitting  with  him  in  his  room  but  the  other  night,  in 
a  brief  interval  of  business,  we  were  surprised  to  hear  him 
whistle,  with  evident  appreciation,  '  II  Trovatore/  and  still 
more  surprised  when  he  proceeded  to  recount,  in  a  strain  of 
enthusiasm,  the  circumstances  under  which  he  first  heard  that 
glorious  opera  at  Naples,  with  the  unutterable  delight  which 
it  then  afforded  him.  He  seemed,  for  the  moment,  transformed 
into  the  poet  and  dilettante.  Presently,  however,  some  officer, 
belted  and  spurred,  came  rushing  into  the  room  upon  business, 
and  the  impassioned  amateur  of  music  was  again  the  rough 
and  stalwart  soldier.  We  left  him  with  the  conviction  that  his 
daring  and  impetuous  spirit  cherished  in  its  depths  riches  of 
which  the  world  suspected  nothing." 

But  there  are  spots  upon  the  sun;  and  Nelson,  with  many 
grand  qualities,  possessed  great  and  obvious  faults.  Alas! 
that  the  symmetry  of  his  character  was  so  marred  by  violence 
of  temper,  and  at  times  by  an  overbearing  manner  and  insuf 
ferable  coarseness  of  expression.  These  were  doubtless  intens 
ified  by  his  quarter-deck  training,  but  they  did  not  originate 
there.  They 

"Accompanied  the  greatness  of  his  blood, 
And  held  their  level  with  his  noble  heart." 


NELSON.  369 

Alas !  that  he  never  learned  the  lesson  which  the  wise  man 
teaches :  "  He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty ; 
and  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit,  than  he  that  taketh  a  city." 

Yet  he  was  ever  frank  and  open  in  his  enmities  as  in  his 
friendships,  and  in  the  latter  no  man  was  ever  more  constant 
or  generous.  Harsh  though  he  might  be  in  moments  of 
anger,  no  officer  ever  appreciated  better  than  he  the  merits  of 
a  subordinate,  or  a  faithful  performance  of  duty  in  any  grade, 
and  none  was  ever  more  careful  of  the  welfare  and  comfort 
of  his  men.  His  was  a  loyal  and  truthful  nature,  despising 
shams,  no  matter  in  what  guise  presented,  and  incapable  of 
double-dealing  in  any  respect.  He  withstood  the  blandish 
ments  of  secession  that  sufficed  to  make  traitors  of  such  men 
as  Stonewall  Jackson,  Lee,  and  Albert  Sidney  Johnston, 
though  they  were  plied  by  John  C.  Breckinridge  and  others 
of  high  position,  who  had  been  his  warm  and  some  of  them 
his  life-long  friends.  To  be  a  Kentuckian  of  aristocratic  con 
nections,  pro-slavery  by  prejudice  and  education,  with  peculiar 
susceptibilities  to  temptation  from  the  stirrings  of  ambition 
common  to  strong  and  commanding  spirits,  yet  to  remain  un 
waveringly  loyal  from  first  to  last,  was  no  small  merit.  What 
ever  may  be  said  of  his  redundancies  of  character  as  a  man, 
his  services  in  the  nation's  cause  were  as  pure  in  motive  as 
they  were  undeniably  able  in  execution.  They  were  such 
services  as  weave  a  mantle  broad  enough,  like  charity,  to  cover 
a  multitude  of  sins,  and  form  a  crown  of  everlasting  glory. 

24 


370  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 
PERRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN. 

(OCTOBER  1-DECEMBER  25,  1862.) 

DURING  its  short  stay  at  Louisville,  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio  was  reorganized  and  divided  into  three  corps,  re 
spectively  commanded  by  Major-Generals  McCook  and  Crit- 
tenden,  and  Brigadier-General  Charles  C.  Gilbert,  General 
Thomas  being  made  second  in  command  of  the  whole  army. 
Gilbert,  who  had  been  Halleck's  inspector-general  during  the 
advance  on  Corinth,  was  in  no  respect  entitled  to  the  impor 
tant  command  which  General  Buell  conferred  upon  him,  and 
within  a  month  was  superseded  by  General  Thomas.  The 
divisions  of  Smith,  Wood,  and  Van  Cleve  (the  last-named  be 
ing  Crittenden's  successor  in  command  of  the  Fifth  Division) 
constituted  the  Second  Corps,  under  command  of  General  Crit- 
tenden.  But  these  changes  were  of  much  less  consequence 
than  the  accession  of  nearly  or  quite  30,000  new  troops  to  the 
war-worn  ranks  of  BuelPs  army,  most  of  whom  were  distrib 
uted  among  the  old  commands — one  or  two  regiments  to  a 
brigade.  The  Fourth  Division  received  the  Eighty-fourth  and 
One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Illinois,  and  the  Ninetieth  Ohio,  of 
which  the  first-named  was  assigned  to  the  Tenth  Brigade. 
This  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Quincy,  Illinois,  mustered  Sep 
tember  1st  (1862),  with  an  aggregate  of  nine  hundred  and 


PEKRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      371 

forty-two,  reached  Louisville  on  the  26th  of  the  same  month, 
and  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Louis  H.  Waters,  an  officer 
of  several  months'  experience  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  another 
regiment. 

October  1st,  Wednesday. — Buell's  army  again  turned  its  foot 
steps  southward — newly-clad,  greatly  rested,  and  confident  of 
victory,  if  the  enemy  could  but  be  brought  to  battle.  It  moved 
in  five  columns,  the  left  on  Frankfort  and  the  right  on  Shepards- 
ville,  under  instructions  which  contemplated  a  concentration 
at  Bardstown,  where  the  main  body  of  Bragg's  forces  was  sup 
posed  to  be.  The  Fourth  Division  formed  part  of  the  heaviest 
of  these  columns,  and  this  day  marched  seven  miles,  directly 
out  the  Bardstown  turnpike.  The  advance,  under  General 
Sill,  found  rebel  cavalry  within  six  or  eight  miles  of  Louis 
ville,  and  had  a  skirmish  at  Floyd's  Fork. 

October  2d. — The  Fourth  Division  (whose  movements  our 
brief  record  must  henceforth  be  understood  to  chronicle,  unless 
otherwise  specified)  marched  eleven  miles  to  Floyd's  Fork. 
Sharp  skirmishing  occurred  a  few  miles  ahead,  with  half  an 
hour's  rapid  cannonading  about  noon. 

October  3d. — Marched  eleven  miles,  through  Mount  Wash 
ington,  to  a  position  where  the  advance  divisions  had  formed 
in  line  of  battle,  just  beyond  Salt  River,  in  consequence  of 
vigorous  opposition  from  the  rebel  outposts. 

October  4th. — Marched  eight  miles  to  a  creek  within  six 
miles  of  Bardstown,  which  place  Wood's  advance  entered  late 
in  the  afternoon,  driving  out  the  enemy's  rear-guard.  Polk, 
whose  corps  it  was  that  had  there  been  posted,  fell  back  toward 
Harrodsburg  and  Bryantsville.  Next  day  the  division  marched 
through  Bardstown  to  a  camping  place  two  miles  beyond,  and 
on  the  6th,  nineteen  miles,  to  Cartwright's  Creek,  two  miles 


372  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

west  of  Springfield.  Buell  was  now  pressing  Bragg  vigorously, 
determined  to  bring  him  to  a  stand. 

October  7th. — Marched  twenty-two  miles  through  Spring 
field  and  Haysville,  and  nearly  two  hours  after  dark  went  into 
bivouac  on  Rolling  Fork,  four  miles  off  the  turnpike,  whither 
Crittenden  found  it  necessary  to  march  his  whole  corps  for 
water.  The  weather  was  dry  and  hot,  and  the  roads  dusty. 
The  weary  troops  were  just  getting  supper  when  the  Sixth 
Ohio  was  ordered  out  on  picket.  Skirmishing  had  been  in 
progress  nearly  all  day.  The  enemy  were  in  force  at  Perry- 
ville,  where  Buell  intended  to  attack  him. 

October  8th,  Wednesday. — Marched  at  7  A.  M.,  toward  the 
turnpike,  four  miles  distant,  and  while  halting  there,  to  allow 
time  for  the  trains  and  artillery  to  pull  out,  heard  the  roar  of 
cannon,  which  was  quickly  followed  by  the  announcement  that 
Gilbert  had  engaged  the  enemy  and  probably  begun  the  long- 
expected  battle.  Smith's  division,  the  advance  of  Crittenden's 
corps,  was  now  on  the  Lebanon  turnpike,  seven  or  eight  miles 
from  Perryville.  On  the  left,  Gilbert's  corps,  constituting  the 
center,  was  already  in  position,  on  the  Springfield  road,  while 
still  further  to  the  left  McCook  was  closing  in  upon  the 
Macksville  road.  Heavy  skirmishing  was  going  on  directly 
in  front,  and  cannonading  still  continued  on  the  left,  when, 
about  11  A.  M.,  Smith  halted  his  division,  after  a  rapid  march 
of  four  more  miles,  and  formed  it  directly  across  the  turnpike ; 
which  disposition,  though  leaving  a  wide  gap  between  him  and 
Gilbert,  was  evidently  the  most  judicious  possible  under  the 
circumstances,  in  order  to  hold  the  road  until  Van  Cleve  and 
Wood  could  be  brought  up,  as  they  were,  during  the  afternoon, 
and  deployed  toward  the  left,  so  as  to  fill  the  interval  in  that 
direction.  The  Tenth  Brigade  was  drawn  up  in  two  lines  im 
mediately  south  of  the  turnpike,  and  held  the  extreme  right 


PERRY VILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.       373 

of  the  Union  line,  the  exact  reverse  of  its  position  at  Shiloh. 
For  hours  the  troops  lay  in  the  sun,  momentarily  expecting  to 
be  ordered  forward,  for  the  purpose  of  a  diversion,  if  nothing 
more ;  but  General  Buell  (incredible  as  it  seems)  did  not  even 
learn  that  a  battle  was  in  progress  until  4  P.  M.,  and  so  the 
day  declined,  the  shadows  lengthened,  and  still  no  orders  for 
the  Fourth  Division.*  There  was  fitful  skirmishing  all  the 
afternoon,  with  some  artillery  firing,  and  once  or  twice  a  bril 
liant  cavalry  charge,  but  not  a  regiment  of  Crittenden's  in 
fantry  got  into  action  until  late  in  the  day,  when  Wood  had 
the  good  fortune  to  be  enabled  to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  re 
pelling  a  flank  attack  upon  General  R.  B.  Mitchell's  division, 
holding  the  right  of  Gilbert's  corps.  At  sunset  the  Tenth 
Brigade  advanced  a  short  distance  to  a  more  commanding  po 
sition,  and  threw  forward  a  heavy  picket,  consisting  in  part  of 
Company  J£,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  under  Lieutenant  Thatcher, 
and  that  night  the  whole  army  slept  in  line,  under  the  softest 
and  brightest  of  autumnal  moons,  and  full  of  the  thoughts  of 
battle  to  be  renewed  at  daylight.  Two  hours'  skirmishing, 
however,  in  which  the  Sixth  Ohio  pickets  bore  a  conspicuous 

*The  writer  once  had  the  following  statement  from  a  general  officer, 
whose  high  character,  no  less  than  the  command  which  he  held  at  the  pe 
riod  under  consideration,  entitles  it  to  credence :  Generals  Thomas  and  Crit- 
tenden,  both  of  whom  were  on  the  ground  and  in  the  same  state  of  ex 
pectancy  as  the  men,  at  one  time  during  the  afternoon  were  about  taking 
the  responsibility  of  attacking  without  orders,  when  they  were  dissuaded 
from  it  by  the  representations  of  a  "Union  citizen,"  just  arrived  by  a  cir 
cuitous  route  from  Perry  ville,  who  informed  them  that  Bragg  had  concen 
trated  30,000  men  and  several  batteries  of  artillery  to  receive  the  threat 
ened  attack  on  the  Lebanon  road.  This  story  was  ingeniously  elaborated, 
but  although  containing  some  particles  of  truth,  was  in  the  main  a  fabri 
cation,  and  there  can  be  scarcely  a  doubt  that  the  worthy  farmer  (as  he 
appeared  to  be)  was  a  spy  of  General  Bragg' s. 


874  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

part,  next  morning  developed  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  re 
treated,  whereupon  the  Fourth  Division  marched  about  three 
miles  across  the  country  to  the  vicinity  of  Rochester  Springs, 
and,  there  bivouacking,  by  night-fall  had  learned  full  particulars 
respecting  McCook's  blundering,  and  the  bloody  struggle  of  the 
day  before.  Generals  Terrill  and  Jackson,  both  well  known 
to  the  Sixth  Ohio,  had  been  killed,  Colonel  Lytle  severely 
wounded  and  afterward  taken  prisoner,  the  Third  and  Tenth 
Ohio  fearfully  cut  up,  and  other  brave  officers  and  men  had 
fallen  by  thousands. 

It  was  long  customary  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  to 
speak  of  the  battle  of  Perryville  as  having  been  delivered  by 
Bragg  with  the  object  of  saving  his  trains,  now  laden  with 
the  spoils  of  three  or  four  wTeeks  undisturbed  occupancy  of  the 
richest  portions  of  Central  Kentucky.  But  it  is  difficult  to 
believe  that  this  was  the  limit  of  Bragg's  hopes  or  expecta 
tions.  When  he  decided  to  stand  and  fight  at  Perryville,  he 
imagined  BuelPs  army  to  be  much  more  widely  scattered 
than  it  really  was,  and  was  especially  deceived  in  regard  to 
the  strength  of  the  Union  column  directed  upon  Frankfort. 
Flushed  with  the  confidence  begotten  of  six  weeks  unwaver 
ing  success,  he  seems  at  that  time  not  yet  to  have  abandoned 
the  hope  of  wintering  in  Kentucky,  and  probably  supposed  he 
could  here  begin  the  task  of  beating  BuelPs  army  in  detail, 
though  he  had  but  five  divisions  on  the  field  himself.  A  brief 
but  desperate  collision  convinced  him  of  his  error,  whereupon 
he  hastily  retired  toward  Harrodsburg,  to  form  a  junction  with 
Kirby  Smith ;  thence,  on  the  1 1th,  to  Bryantsville  and  Camp 
Dick  Robinson,  behind  Dick's  River,  and  on  the  13th,  began  a 
rapid  march  for  Cumberland  Gap,  whither  the  bulk  of  his  im 
mense  trains  had  been  dispatched  immediately  after  the  battle. 

During  these  five  days — namely,  from  the  9th  to  the  13th  of 


PEEKYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      375 

October,  inclusive — Buell  threw  away  the  grand  opportunity 
of  the  campaign.  It  is  true  that  his  army  had  been  roughly 
handled  at  Perry  ville,  but  scarcely  more  so  than  his  antago 
nist's,  which  was  less  able  to  lose  three  thousand  men  than  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio  its  four  thousand.  If  Buell  did  not  know 
how  largely  his  forces  outnumbered  the  rebels,  it  must  be  said 
that  it  was  eminently  his  business  to  do  so ;  and  IF  his  troops 
could  not  be  relied  upon  equally  with  Bragg's,  for  staunch 
work  in  battle,  it  was  more  the  result  of  influences  emanating 
from  his  own  head-quarters  than  of  all  other  circumstances 
combined.  Spite  of  his  high  attainments  in  the  military  pro 
fession,  spite  of  his  great  talents  for  organization  and  his 
proven  capacity  for  moving  large  bodies  of  troops,  spite  of  his 
unimpeachable  record  at  Shiloh,  General  Buell  failed  to  rise  to 
the  level  of  this  occasion ;  and  so,  while  Buell  was  timidly  feel 
ing  the  enemy  in  various  directions  toward  Dick  River,  Bragg 
perfected  his  plans  and  escaped. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  the  Fourth  Division  marched  six 
miles  through  Perry  ville,  to  within  two  or  three  miles  of  Dan 
ville,  which  place  was  still  held  by  the  enemy.  A  cold  rain 
set  in  at  night-fall,  and  the  next  day  was  a  genuine  foretaste 
of  winter.  On  the  llth,  the  Nineteenth  Brigade  made  a  re- 
connoissance  through  Danville,  driving  the  rebel  rear-guard 
before  it.  On  Sunday,  the  12th,  the  whole  division  made  a 
reconnoissance  across  the  country  in  a  north-easterly  direction, 
went  within  six  miles  of  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  and  returned 
to  its  old  camping  place  at  dark,  after  a  march  of  ten  or  twelve 
miles.  Next  day  it  changed  camp  a  few  hundred  yards  ahead, 
and,  on  the  14th,  with  the  rest  of  the  army,  began  a  vigorous 
pursuit  of  the  retreating  enemy,  marching  fifteen  miles  to  Stan 
ford.  About  11  P.  M.,  it  was  roused  for  a  night,  march, ,  but 


376  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

now  to  attempt  to  overhaul  the  rebels  was  a  hopeless  task. 
Provided  with  a  "Jackass  Battery,"  Bragg's  rear-guard  was 
skillfully  maneuvered,  and,  after  passing  through  Crab  Or 
chard,  was  operating  in  a  country  the  most  favorable  possible 
for  covering  a  retreat. 

October  15th. — The  Fourth  Division  started  at  2  A.  M.,  and 
marched  seven  miles  before  sunrise,  by  which  time  it  was  al 
most  up  with  the  advance,  formed  in  line  of  battle  near  Crab 
Orchard.  After  holding  the  Union  forces  at  bay  for  two  or 
three  hours,  the  enemy's  rear-guard  retired  through  Crab  Or 
chard,  just  in  season  to  escape  capture  in  a  body,  but  kept  up 
almost  constant  skirmishing  all  day  as  it  fell  back.  The  di 
vision  marched  twenty-two  miles,  and  that  night  the  Sixth 
Ohio  was  on  picket. 

October  16th. — Marched  eleven  miles  through  Mount  Ver- 
non  to  Rockcastle  River.  The  country  had  now  become  wild 
and  mountainous,  and  of  this  the  enemy  took  advantage  by 
felling  timber  across  the  roads,  and  contesting  from  hill  to  hill 
the  passage  of  the  valleys.  During  the  forenoon,  a  member  of 
the  Sixth  Kentucky  was  instantly  killed  on  the  skirmish  line, 
and  buried  near  where  he  fell.  At  this  date,  General  Buell 
decided  to  abandon  the  pursuit,  and  move  at  once  to  Nashville, 
which  was  now  threatened  by  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy 
at  Murfreesboro',  and  which  he  rightly  judged  was  the  point 
that  Bragg  would  next  strike  for.  McCook's  and  Gilbert's 
corps  were  halted  at  Crab  Orchard,  Wood's  division  at  Mount 
Vernon,  and  Van  Cleve's  at  Rockcastle  River,  but  Smith  ob 
tained  permission  to  follow  the  enemy  a  little  further. 

October  17th. — Crossed  Rockcastle  River  early,  and  marched 
up  the  mountain  side  to  Camp  Wildcat,  the  Tenth  Brigade  in 
advance.  The  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  deployed  through  the 
woods  as  skirmishers,  pushed  the  rebel  pickets  vigorously,  and 


PERKYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      377 

lost  three  or  four  men  killed  and  wounded.  The  enemy,  suf 
fering  at  least  equally,  next  took  position  to  defend  a  deep 
gorge  two  miles  beyond  Wildcat,  where  skirmishing  continued 
until  near  sundown.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was  sent  by  a  circuitous 
and  toilsome  route  along  the  mountain  ridge  to  take  the  enemy 
in  flank,  and  at  night  the  whole  brigade  returned  to  Wildcat, 
having  marched  in  all  about  seven  miles  that  day.  The  di 
vision  was  now  far  from  any  supply  depot,  the  country  was 
very  poor,  and  for  nearly  three  weeks  from  this  date  the  troops 
were  again  on  short  rations. 

October  18th. — The  Nineteenth  Brigade  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  to  London,  but  found  no  enemy.  Marching  out  the 
"  Winding  Blades  "  road,  the  Twenty-second  Brigade  surprised 
a  detachment  of  rebel  cavalry  at  Nelson's  Cross-roads,  and 
captured  several  prisoners,  and  a  lot  of  beeves  which  they  had 
stolen  further  north. 

On  Sunday,  the  19th,  the  Tenth  Brigade  also  moved  to  Nel 
son's  Cross-roads,  eight  miles  distant,  and  next  day  thirteen 
miles  further,  on  the  Manchester  road,  which  brought  it  to 
within  forty-five  miles  of  Cumberland  Gap.  The  enemy  had 
now  put  himself  beyond  the  possibility  of  pursuit,  and  the 
command  returned  the  same  day  to  Nelson's  Cross-roads, 
whence,  after  arming  the  loyal  mountaineers  with  captured 
muskets,  picking  up  rebel  stragglers,  etc.,  General  Smith,  on 
the  22d,  countermarched  it  ten  miles  to  Rockcastle  River. 
Colonel  Grose  was  absent  sick,  for  a  week  or  two  about  this 
time,  and,  meanwhile,  Colonel  Fred.  Jones  commanded  the 
brigade.  On  the  23d,  the  Twenty-second  Brigade  completed 
the  work  of  the  Fourth  Division  in  this  region  by  destroying 
the  Goose  Creek  Salt-works,  near  Manchester,  with  thirty 
thousand  bushels  of  salt.  Since  leaving  Crab  Orchard,  the 
division  had  received  the  surrender  of  about  six  hundred  rebel 


378  THE   STOEY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

-soldiers,  and  captured  four  hundred  fat  cattle  from  the  enemy's 
supply  train.  On  the  24th,  the  division  recrossed  Rockcastle 
Kiver,  marching  nine  miles  to  a  camping  place  just  beyond 
Mount  Vernon;  on  the  25th,  thirteen  miles  to  Buck  Creek, 
and  on  Sunday,  the  26th,  thirteen  miles,  through  frozen  slush 
and  four  inches  of  snow,  to  camp  half  a  mile  west  of  Somer 
set.  "On  this  march  we  really  suffered,"  says  a  Sixth  Ohio 
letter.  "We  had  no  tents,  nor  shelter  of  any  kind,  no  axes 
for  cutting  fire-wood;  we  were  stinted  in  supplies  and  lightly 
clad ;  and  it  is  a  fact  that  many  of  our  almost  barefooted  hun 
dreds  left  bloody  foot-prints  as  they  trudged  along  over  the 
frozen  snow  and  ice.  Valley  Forge  could  never  have  surpassed 
it."  Many  were  here  sent  to  hospital  from  the  Fourth  Di 
vision,  including  a  small  delegation  from  the  Sixth  Ohio. 
Such  service  as  the  army  was  now  undergoing  was  particu 
larly  severe  upon  the  new  regiments,  which  fact,  as  also  one 
other  great  grievance,  is  pathetically  set  forth  by  the  historian 
of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  as  follows:  "Our  men  were 
scantily  clothed,  for  the  weather  had  been  very  warm  for  a 
few  days  after  leaving  Louisville,  and  finding  themselves  over 
loaded,  they  had  thrown  away  all  except  one  suit.  Many  were 
now  nearly  barefooted,  and  some  had  been  so  unfortunate  as  to 
lose  their  blankets,  or  have  them  stolen  by  the  older  regiments. 
We  were  the  only  new  regiment  in  the  brigade,  and  during  the 
whole  campaign  our  VERDANCY  gave  them  frequent  occasion 
for  mirth  and  ridicule ;  and  from  our  men  many  were  so  un 
principled  as  to  steal  nearly  every  thing  not  actually  fastened 
to  their  persons."* 

After  resting  one  day  at  Somerset,  the  Fourth  Division,  on 
the  28th  of  October  marched  five  miles  to  Fishing  Creek;  on 

*  "The  History  of  the  84th  Regt.  Ills.  Vols.:  By  L.  A.  Simmons,  Ma- 
comb,  Ills.,  1866." 


PERKYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      379 

the  29th,  crossed  that  stream  and  marched  eight  miles,  pass 
ing  near  the  Mill  Spring  battle-ground,  where  the  Sixth  Ohio 
noted  with  melancholy  interest  the  graves  of  several  soldiers 
belonging  to  the  staunch  old  Ninth  Ohio;  on  the  30th, 
eighteen  miles  to  Wolf  Creek,  and  on  the  31st,  eighteen  miles 
further,  to  Columbia,  where  it  encamped  on  the  banks  of  Rus 
sell  Creek.  Here  it  received  intelligence  of  BuelPs  superse- 
dure  by  Rosecrans,  on  the  previous  day,  which  was  most  wel 
come;  for  limited  as  was  the  confidence  which  General  Buell 
seemed  to  repose  in  his  army,  the  latter  had  still  less  confidence 
in  him.  Fruitless  rather  than  hard  marching,  overmuch 
strategy  that  resulted  in  nothing,  and  stern  repression  at  times 
when  all  its  instincts  clamored  for  fight,  had  disheartened  the 
whole  army,  and  developed  the  symptoms  of  general  demor 
alization.  Some  change  had  become  a  necessity;  although, 
it  must  be  said,  these  were  not  the  principal  considerations 
wrhich  governed  the  action  of  the  War  Department.  The  de 
signation  of  the  army  was  now  changed  to  the  title  which  it 
bore  with  such  pride  and  honor  to  itself  to  the  close  of  the 
war — the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Critten den's  corps  became 
the  "Left  Wing/'  McCook's  the  "Right  Wing/'  and  Thomas' 
the  "Center." 

On  Sunday,  November  2d,  the  Fourth  Division  marched 
twenty  miles  to  Edmonton ;  on  the  3d,  twenty-two  miles  to 
Glasgow,  where,  on  the  6th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  received  its  tents 
and  baggage,  and  pitched  the  former,  for  the  first  time  in  more 
than  two  months;  on  the  8th,  twenty-two  miles  to  Scottsville; 
on  the  9th,  three  miles  further,  for  better  camp  grounds;  on 
the  10th,  twelve  miles,  to  the  Tennessee  State  line;  on  the 
llth,  seventeen  miles,  to  within  five  miles  of  Gallatin,  and  on 
the  12th  through  Gallatin,  thence  across  the  Cumberland  by  a 
shaky  bridge  of  trestles  and  loose  boards,  which  had  been 


380  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

hastily  improvised  by  Wood's  division,  and  eight  miles  beyond, 
to  the  Lebanon  turnpike — in  all,  sixteen  miles.  The  Sixth 
Ohio  was  this  day  rear-guard  for  the  entire  division,  and  had 
four  men — three  from  Company  F  and  one  from  Company  G — 
taken  prisoners,  and  afterward  paroled  by  John  Morgan,  who 
had  been  hovering  about  Lebanon  and  Gallatin  for  several 
days.  On  the  13th,  the  division  moved  three  miles  nearer 
Nashville,  to  rejoin  the  rest  of  Crittenden's  corps  at  Silver 
Springs.  Here  Captain  Driver's  "  Old  Glory  "  was  hoisted  in 
front  of  Colonel  Anderson's  head-quarters,  and  Commissary- 
Sergeant  Slanker  and  one  or  two  other  wags  perpetrated  the 
joke  of  opening  a  "  recruiting  office  for  the  gunboat  service," 
and  in  the  course  of  three  hours  had  examined  and  "passed" 
a  large  crowd  of  recruits,  made  up  from  almost  every  regiment 
in  the  corps. 

The  whole  army  was  now  assembled  in  the  vicinity  of  Nash 
ville,  whither  General  Rosecrans  had  removed  his  head-quar 
ters  from  Bowling  Green,  on  the  10th,  five  days  after  the  futile 
demonstrations  upon  it  by  Forrest  and  Morgan.  As  yet,  the 
railroad  had  been  re-opened  no  further  than  Mitchellsville, 
thirty-five  miles  distant,  and  for  two  weeks  longer  General 
Kosecrans  found  it  difficult  to  subsist  his  army.  Meanwhile, 
Bragg  was  rapidly  concentrating  at  Murfreesboro'.  Two  large 
armies  thus  lay  confronting  each  other  scarcely  twenty-five 
miles  apart,  with  their  outposts  in  close  proximity,  and  scarcely 
a  day  passed  for  the  next  six  weeks  without  one  or  more  col 
lisions  somewhere  along  the  front. 

Prior  to  this,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson  had  received  his 
commission  as  colonel,  bearing  date  August  19th.  Lieutenant 
Choate,  with  the  commission  in  his  pocket,  had  been  captured 
near  Bardstown,  and  it  was  now  defaced  by  the  indorsement, 
"Approved  and  permitted  to  be  forwarded  "  signed  by  John 


PEKRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      881 

Morgan — which  was  not  a  bad  joke,  all  things  considered. 
Colonel  Anderson's  muster  took  effect  November  9th  (1862), 
as  did  that  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher,  promoted  from 
major.  Captain  Erwin  had  rejoined  the  regiment  in  the 
vicinity  of  Camp  Wildcat,  with  about  thirty  recruits,  but  was 
still  suffering  from  the  effects  of  his  wound.  Captain  Bense 
and  Lieutenants  Oilman  and  Schieffer  joined  it  soon  afterward 
at  Glasgow,  and  within  a  few  weeks  of  this  time  nearly  the 
whole  of  Company  I  was  got  together  again,  most  of  the  en 
listed  men  captured  up  Stewart's  Run  having  been  paroled  at 
Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  May  18th,  and  declared  to  be  ex 
changed  in  orders  from  the  War  Department,  dated  November 
19th.  The  commissioned  officers,  however,  had  refused  to  take 
a  parole,  and  were  not  sent  north  until  September.  Captain 
Bense  twice  escaped  from  prison,  but  was  recaptured  and 
treated  with  great  harshness. 

A  few  more  dates  must  suffice  for  an  outline  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio's  history  and  surroundings,  down  to  the  Stone  River 
campaign. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  Colonel  Grose,  the  brigade  com 
mander,  formally  announced  his  staff,  although  most  of  the 
officers  designated  had  been  serving  thereon  ever  since  leaving 
Louisville.  Lieutenant  Southgate,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  was  act 
ing  assistant  adjutant-general,  and  Captain  Erwin,  brigade 
inspector.  The  latter  was  relieved  soon  afterward  by  Lieu 
tenant  John  P.  Duke,  of  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky.  On 
the  15th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  (still  at  Silver  Springs)  was  on 
picket,  and  on  the  18th  was  paid  off  by  Major  Yohn  for  the 
four  months  ending  August  31st.  At  the  same  date,  Ezra 
Kelsey  was  announced  as  regimental  sutler  vice  Cobb,  who  had 
not  made  his  appearance  for  several  months. 


382  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

On  the  19th,  the  division  changed  camp  twelve  miles,  to 
within  eight  miles  of  Nashville,  passing  by  the  Hermitage, 
and  a  hamlet  dignified  by  the  high-sounding  name  of  "Slip 
up."  On  the  20th,  Jake  Fifer  and  Ben.  Phillips  returned 
home,  having  been  mustered  out  of  service  in  accordance  with 
orders  from  the  War  Department,  abolishing  the  grade  of 
chief  musician.  Starting  at  1  A.  M.,  on  the  25th,  the  regi 
ment  made  a  rough  and  fruitless  march  across  the  country,  to 
surprise  a  camp  of  rebel  cavalry,  crossed  Stone  River  twice, 
and  marched  not  less  than  twenty  miles. 

On  the  26th,  the  division  changed  camp  eight  miles,  to  the 
Murfreesboro'  turnpike,  three- fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  old 
site  of  Camp  Andrew  Jackson,  and  three  miles  from  Nashville, 
and  here  it  remained  until  the  army  moved  upon  Murfrees- 
boro'.  On  the  27th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  escort  for  a  forage 
train,  making  a  march  of  twenty  miles.  On  the  1st  of  De 
cember,  Captain  McAlpin  was  appointed  "Regimental  Pro 
vost,"  to  adjudicate  those  petty  cases  which  had  formerly  been 
tried  by  regimental  court-martial,  but  was  soon  afterward  re 
placed  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher,  as  the  act  of  Con 
gress  under  which  such  appointments  had  been  ordered  by  the 
War  Department  required  that  the  position  should  be  filled  by 
a  field  officer.  On  the  3d — a  beautiful  day — the  Fourth  Di 
vision  was  reviewed  by  General  Rosecrans,  on  grounds  near 
the  Lunatic  Asylum,  seven  miles  from  Nashville.  "Riding 
down  the  lines  of  our  regiment,"  says  a  Sixth  Ohio  letter, 
"  the  General  got  off  a  little  raillery  about  Beverly  mud,  prom 
ised  us  a  fight  soon,  and  stopped  a  moment  to  shake  hands 
with  Captain  Bense  and  one  or  two  other  officers.  How  dif 
ferent  from  General  Buell ! "  On  the  4th,  the  Tenth  Brigade 
marched  fifteen  miles,  as  escort  for  a  forage  train  sent  out  on 
the  Murfreesboro7  turnpike.  Three  days  later,  Hartsyille  was 


PERRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      383 

captured,  with  nearly  an  entire  brigade,  by  John  Morgan.  On 
the  9th,  the  Tenth  Brigade  was  on  picket  beyond  the  Lunatic 
Asylum,  and  early  next  morning  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  another 
regiment  made  a  reconnoissance  two  miles  further,  surprised  a 
rebel  outpost,  and  captured  nine  prisoners.  Company  C,  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  bore  the  most  prominent  part  in  this  exploit.  The 
9th  of  December  is  also  the  date  of  the  very  handsome  repulse 
of  Wheeler's  cavalry,  four  miles  from  Lavergne,  by  Colonel 
Stanley  M.  Matthews'  brigade  of  Van  Cleve's  division,  acting 
as  escort  for  a  forage  train.  On  the  llth,  General  Smith  was 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Fourth  Division ;  was  soon 
afterward,  at  his  own  request,  transferred  to  General  Grant's 
department ;  became  chief  of  cavalry  for  the  Military  Division 
of  the  Mississippi;  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health  in  the 
summer  of  1864;  and  is  now  living  in  contented  retirement 
on  his  country  place,  some  miles  from  Chicago.  General  Pal 
mer,  his  successor  in  command  of  the  Fourth  Division,  took 
hold  vigorously,  and  with  decided  benefit  to  the  discipline  and 
morale  of  the  division. 

John  McAuley  Palmer  was  born  of  Virginia  ancestry,  in 
Scott  County,  Kentucky,  September  13,  1817.  In  1831,  the 
family  removed  to  Madison  County,  Illinois,  in  consequence  of 
the  antislavery  sentiments  of  his  father,  who  was  an  intelligent 
farmer.  Young  Palmer  graduated  at  a  manual  labor  college 
at  Alton,  Illinois,  in  1835;  afterward  worked  with  a  cooper, 
then  traveled  as  a  peddler,  next  taught  a  country  school,  and 
finally,  after  about  one  year's  study  of  the  law,  in  December, 
1839,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  settled  in  Carlinville,  Ma- 
coupin  County,  (where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,)  and  struggled  his  way  to  the  front  rank  of  his 
profession.  He  was  an  active  participant  in  politics,  being 


384  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

originally  a  warm  Democrat  and  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of 
Senator  Douglas.  In  1849,  he  was  elected  county  judge,  hav 
ing  previously  served  two  terms  as  probate  justice  of  Macoupin 
County,  and  been  a  member  of  the  Convention  for  framing  a 
new  State  Constitution.  In  1851,  he  was  elected,  and  in  1855 
reflected,  to  the  State  Senate.  He  took  strong  grounds  against 
the  measures  of  the  Nebraska  Bill,  notwithstanding  they  origi 
nated  with  Mr.  Douglas ;  in  1856,  was  president  of  the  first  Re 
publican  State  Convention  in  Illinois ;  was  nominated  for  Con 
gress  in  1859,  but  defeated,  his  district  bordering  upon  "  Egypt ;" 
in  1860,  was  Presidential  elector  for  the  State  at  large,  and  cast 
his  vote  for  Lincoln;  and  in  February,  1861,  was  delegate  to 
the  Peace  Congress  at  Washington. 

In  May,  1861,  he  became  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois 
Infantry,  which,  in  July,  he  led  to  Missouri.  On  the  23d  of 
October  following,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade, 
and  on  the  20th  of  December  commissioned  brigadier-general. 
In  command  of  a  division,  he  took  a  prominent  and  important 
part  in  the  operations  which  led  to  the  capture  of  New  Madrid 
and  Island  Number  Ten,  and  although  during  the  advance  on 
Corinth  he  commanded  a  brigade  merely,  in  General  Pope's 
reorganized  army,  he  ably  improved  the  opportunity  afforded 
him  at  Farmington,  for  the  display  of  great  skill  and  gallantry, 
in  maneuvering  his  troops  under  very  critical  circumstances. 
After  three  months'  absence  from  the  front,  occasioned  by  a 
severe  attack  of  pneumonia,  General  Palmer  was,  early  in  Sep 
tember  (1862),  placed  in  command  of  one  of  the  two  small 
divisions  which  had  been  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  to  reenforce  General  Buell,  then  just  beginning  his 
northward  march  abreast  of  Bragg.  His  division  reached 
Nashville  on  the  llth  of  September,  and  there  remained  in 
garrison  until  the  return  of  the  army  from  Louisville.  At  the 


PERRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      385 

head  of  the  Fourth  Division,  he  soon  won  the  respect  and  con 
fidence  of  his  men,  and  proved  himself  a  worthy  peer  of  the 
fighting  generals  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  General 
Palmer  is  a  man  of  large  capacity,  systematic  energy,  great 
firmness,  and  fine  executive  abilities. 

At  dress  parade  on  Sunday,  December  4th,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
was  presented  with  a  handsome  stand  of  colors,  consisting  of  a 
regimental  banner,  the  gift  of  the  City  Council,  and  a  national 
flag  from  the  ladies  of  Cincinnati.  The  Honorable  Jimmy 
Fitzgerald  spoke  for  the  Council,  and  Colonel  Jones,  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  for  the  ladies.  Colonel  Anderson  re 
sponded  as  follows: 

GENTLEMEN  :  In  behalf  of  the  Sixth  Regiment,  I  receive  from 
your  hands  these  flags,  beautiful,  indeed,  in  their  brilliant  colors 
and  silken  folds,  but  more  beautiful  and  dearer  far  to  us  in  the 
thoughts  and  associations  which  cluster  around  them.  They  are 
not  given,  as  we  know  full  well,  merely  to  flutter  in  the  dress  par 
ade  or  gaudy  review,  but  as  incentives  to  action,  and  in  this  spirit 
we  receive  them.  They  will  remind  us  of  the  loved  ones  at  home, 
and  of  the  tender  confidence  with  which  they  give  them  to  our 
care.  Above  all,  they  will  remind  us  of  our  duty,  whether  it  be 
amid  the  crashing  of  cannon  and  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and 
dying,  or  to  bear  cheerfully  the  long  and  weary  marches,  the  camp 
disease,  and  all  the  fatigues  and  sorrows  which  go  to  make  up  a 
soldier's  life.  Be  assured,  gentlemen,  wherever  destiny  may  lead 
us — either  to  the  more  glorious  dangers  of  the  battle-field,  or  the 
more  trying  and  less-to-be-desired  dangers  of  incessant  and  inglo 
rious  march — this  flag  from  the  Council  of  our  native  city,  and  this 
from  the  weeping  mothers,  the  wives  and  sisters  we  have  left  behind, 
will  ever  inspire  us  to  behave  as  soldiers  in  camp  and  men  in  battle. 

Soldiers !  take  your  flags.  They  are  now  a  part  of  yourselves. 
25 


386  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

They  represent  your  country,  your  city,  your  loved  ones,  and  your 
own  honor.  To  disgrace  yourselves  would  be  to  disgrace  them 
and  those  who  gave  them. 

On  the  16th,  the  Tenth  Brigade  went  out  on  a  foraging  ex 
pedition  to  the  Hermitage,  returning  at  half-past  ten  o'clock 
at  night,  after  a  march  of  twenty  miles.  Some  juvenile  con 
trabands,  who  had  run  away  from  their  masters  to  escape  a 
beating,  joined  the  column  on  its  return  and  were  taken  into 
service  by  different  squads  of  the  Sixth  Ohio.  On  the  20th, 
the  Fourth  Division  made  a  reconnoissance  toward  Lebanon, 
marching  in  all  twenty- two  miles.  On  the  22d,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  and  five  other  regiments  again  went  foraging — this  time, 
through  Nashville  and  out  the  Hillsboro'  turnpike — and 
marched  twenty-four  miles.  On  Christmas-eve  a  number  of 
boxes,  etc.,  with  good  things  from  home,  reached  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  and  camp  was  merry.  Christmas-day  was  dull  enough, 
however.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher  started  home  in  the 
morning  on  a  leave  of  absence,  and  Lieutenant  Thatcher  had  a 
lot  of  eggnog  made  up  for  Company  K. 

On  the  28th  of  November  a  large  number  of  commissions 
reached  the  Sixth  Ohio,  most  of  them  dating  back  to  August 
or  September,  and  some  of  them  even  to  July ;  and  the  follow 
ing  promotions,  etc.,  were  thereupon  announced :  Major  A.  O. 
Russell,  promoted  from  captain  of  Company  G.  Captain  Getty 
and  First  Lieutenant  Montagnier,  promoted  from  the  grades  next 
lower,  in  the  same  company.  The  latter  had  now  rejoined  the 
regiment  from  staff  duty  with  General  Hascall,  and  was  tem 
porarily  placed  in  command  of  Company  F.  Captain  Charles 
B.  Russell,  promoted  from  first  lieutenant  Company  B,  and 
assigned  to  Company  D,  which  thus  secured  the  most  popular 


PERRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      387 

officer  in  the  regiment.  Captain  R.  H.  Southgate  (still  de 
tached),  promoted  from  first  lieutenant  Company  I,  and  as 
signed  to  Company  C.  First  Lieutenants  B.  F.  West  and  W. 
E.  Sheridan  (detached),  promoted  from  second  lieutenants  in 
Companies  I  and  H.  First  Lieutenant  James  K.  Reynolds, 
promoted  from  private  in  Company  A,  was  private  secretary 
to  General  Rosecrans,  with  the  appointment  of  aid-de-camp, 
and  never  performed  duty  with  the  regiment.  The  following 
non-commissioned  officers  were  promoted  to  second  lieutenan 
cies,  and  assigned  as  indicated :  Sergeant-Major  James  F.  Ir- 
win,  to  Company  G ;  First  Sergeant  John  R.  Kestner,  Company 
C,  remained  in  same  company;  First  Sergeant  Jonathan  Burt 
Holmes,  Company  A,  assigned  to  Company  B ;  First  Sergeant 
Charles  H.  Foster,  Company  B,  assigned  to  Company  A ;  First 
Sergeant  Joseph  L.  Antram,  Company  E,  assigned  to  Company 
D ;  and  First  Sergeant  James  F.  Meline,  Company  K,  assigned 
to  Company  H,  but  remained  on  duty  for  some  weeks  with 
his  old  company.  Second  Lieutenant  Walter  Lawrence,  pro 
moted  from  corporal  in  Company  G,  was  assigned  to  Company 
I,  but  resigned  in  February,  1863,  and  came  home. 

Shortly  before  this,  Second  Lieutenant  Williams  had  been 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  appointed  adjutant,  to  date 
from  August  1st.  On  the  23d  of  November,  First  Lieutenant 
Morris  (who  had  already  been  absent  from  the  regiment  for 
two  and  a  half  months)  was  detailed  for  duty  in  convalescent 
barracks  at  Gallatin.  On  the  2d  of  December,  Dr.  Ames 
went  to  hospital  at  Nashville,  sick,  and  Dr.  Stephens  being  de 
tached,  the  regiment  was  delivered  over  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  a  worthless  charlatan,  detailed  from  some  other  quarter,  who, 
for  his  own  sake,  in  this  volume  shall  be  nameless.  Captain 
Erwin,  who,  on  the  19th  of  November,  had  been  ordered  to 
Ohio,  "to  bring  forward  drafted  men,"  returned  to  the  front 


388  THE   STOEY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

early  in  December.  Quartermaster  Shoemaker,  on  the  7th 
of  December,  was  appointed  Master  of  Transportation  for  the 
division,  and  for  the  next  four  months  the  duties  of  regimental 
quartermaster  were  discharged  by  Lieutenant  Irwin.  At  the 
same  date,  First  Lieutenant  West,  of  Company  I,  was  perma 
nently  detached  for  duty  in  the  Pioneer  Corps  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  (consisting  of  twenty  men  from  each  regiment), 
where  he  performed  energetic  and  valuable  service;  and  First 
Lieutenant  Donovan,  Second  Lieutenant  Schieffer,  and  First 
Sergeant  Jesse  C.  La  Bille,  of  Company  F,  were  recommended 
by  Colonel  Anderson  for  promotion,  as  being  "  deserving  and 
exceedingly  efficient  officers/'  Sergeant  James  F.  Graham,  of 
Company  E,  was  made  sergeant-major  vice  Irwin.  When  the 
regiment  marcfied  from  Nashville  to  what  proved  to  be  the 
battle-field  of  Stone  River,  Lieutenant  Choate  was  still  absent, 
not  yet  being  exchanged,  and  Captains  Westcott  and  Brutton 
were  incapacitated  for  commanding  their  companies.  Com 
pany  I,  which  for  two  weeks  had  been  doing  duty  as  provost 
guard  for  the  brigade,  now  rejoined  the  regiment. 

Thus,  the  officers  on  duty  with  the  Sixth  Ohio,  at  that  date, 
were  as  follows :  Colonel  Anderson,  Major  Russell,  and  Adju 
tant  Williams ;  Captains  McAlpin,  Russell,  Erwin,  Getty, 
Tinker,  and  Bense;  First  Lieutenants  Donovan,  Thatcher, 
Montagnier,  and  Gilman,  the  last  three  of  whom  were  in  com 
mand  of  Companies  K,  F,  and  C,  respectively;  and  Second 
Lieutenants  Foster  (commanding  his  company),  Holmes, 
Kestner,  Antram,  Schieffer,  Irwin  (detailed),  Meline,  and 
Lawrence. 

Anthony  Octavius  Russell,  the  newly-appointed  major,  was 
born  at  Southington,  Connecticut,  on  the  4th  of  December, 
1826.  The  family  removed  to  Ohio  in  1830,  and  in  1841,  he 


PERRYVILLE,  WILDCAT,  AND  NASHVILLE  AGAIN.      389 

came  to  Cincinnati,  and  entered  the  Enquirer  office  as  an  ap 
prentice  to  the  printing  business.  When  the  war  broke  out, 
he  was  managing  a  large  job  printing  office  in  Memphis, 
whence  returning  to  Cincinnati,  he  immediately  rejoined  old 
associations  in  the  Guthrie  Grey  organization,  and  became  cap 
tain  of  Company  G,  Sixth  Ohio.  He  was  an  efficient  officer, 
eminently  practical,  and  as  strict  a  disciplinarian  as  could  be 
found  in  the  brigade. 


390  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

STONE    RIVER. 

(DECEMBER  26,  1862-JANUARY  4,  1863.) 

TNDER  the  impression  that  the  Union  army  had  gone 
^^  into  winter-quarters,  Bragg,  a  few  days  before  Christ 
mas,  detached  two  considerable  bodies  of  cavalry,  sending 
one  into  West  Tennessee  to  badger  General  Grant,  and  the 
other  northward  to  repeat  the  old  game  of  tearing  up  the 
Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad.  Rosecrans,  however,  was 
not  nearly  so  meekly-minded  as  his  antagonist  gave  him  credit 
for ;  he  had  come  to  Nashville  for  the  express  purpose  of 
fight,  and  had  been  hard  at  work  preparing  for  nothing  else 
ever  since.  Five  weeks'  rations  had  now  been  accumulated  at 
Nashville,  and  the  rising  Cumberland  afforded  promise  of  the 
means  whereby  this  supply  could  be  rapidlj  and  safely  aug 
mented.  The  army  was  in  excellent  condition — thoroughly 
rested,  well  in  hand,  and  wonderfully  toned  up  in  spirit  and 
enthusiasm  since  the  close  of  its  weary  campaign  in  Kentucky. 
The  enemy's  immense  preponderance  in  cavalry  had  been  ma 
terially  reduced  by  the  dispositions  above  noted,  and  the  time 
seemed  opportune  for  reclaiming  Middle  Tennessee  and  break 
ing  the  power  of  Bragg's  boastful  legions.  On  the  24th  of 
December,  marching  orders  were  accordingly  issued,  but  were 
countermanded  in  a  few  hours,  so  that  the  army  did  not  move 


STONE   RIVER.  391 

either  on  that  day  or  the  warm  and  listless  Christmas  which 
succeeded. 

The  Left  Wing,  under  Crittenden,  at  this  date  consisted  of 
the  three  divisions  of  Wood,  Palmer,  and  Van  Cleve,  now  re 
numbered  as  the  First,  Second,  and  Third,  of  that  wing. 
Palmer's  division,  according  to  the  new  nomenclature,  com 
prised  the  following  troops : 

First  Brigade  (formerly  Twenty-second),  Brigadier-General 
Charles  Cruft,  commanding — First  and  Second  Kentucky, 
Thirty-first  Indiana,  and  Ninetieth  Ohio,  and  Battery  B, 
First  Ohio  Artillery,  under  Captain  Standart. 

Second  Brigade  (formerly  Nineteenth),  Colonel  Hazen  com 
manding — Forty-first  Ohio,  Ninth  Indiana,  Sixth  Kentucky, 
and  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Illinois;  and  Battery  F,  First 
Ohio  Artillery,  under  Captain  Cockerill. 

Third  Brigade  (formerly  Tenth),  Colonel  Grose  command 
ing — Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
Twenty-third  Kentucky,  and  Eighty-fourth  Illinois;  and  Bat 
teries  H  and  M,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  officered 
by  Lieutenants  Parsons,  Cushing,  and  Huntington,  and  con 
solidated  for  the  time  being  under  command  of  the  first- 
named. 

Early  on  the  26th  of  December,  the  entire  army  was  put  in 
motion,  the  Left  Wing  proceeding  directly  out  the  Murfrees- 
boro'  turnpike,*  and  the  Center  and  Right  Wing  (under 
Thomas  and  McCook)  on  the  Franklin  and  Nolensville  roads. 
Crittenden  that  day  advanced  to  Lavergne,  skirmishing  heavily 
on  his  front,  over  a  rough  country,  abounding  in  forests  and 

*  Graphic  descriptions  of  the  march  from  Nashville  and  scenes  upon 
the  battle-field  of  Stone  River,  will  be  found  in  Part  II,  in  the  chapters 
entitled  "In  the  Ranks  at  Stone  River,"  and  "In  Hospital,"  etc. 


392  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

cedar-brakes,  and  the  Second  Division  marched  twelve  miles, 
under  cover  of  a  strong  force  of  skirmishers  and  flankers,  to 
which  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  other  regiments  of  the  Third  Bri 
gade  contributed  their  due  proportion.  Rain  fell  nearly  all 
day  and  again  at  night,  and  the  next  morning  was  very  foggy. 
During  the  forenoon  of  the  27th  Hascall's  brigade  of  Wood's 
division,  with  the  help  of  artillery,  drove  the  rebels  from  La- 
vergne,  and  that  night  the  Left  Wing  bivouacked  at  Stewart's 
Creek,  after  continuous  skirmishing  for  five  miles,  most  of  the 
time  in  a  cold,  dreary  rain.  Grose's  brigade  took  position  on 
the  extreme  right  of  the  advanced  line,  where  the  Sixth  Ohio 
was  thrown  forward  on  picket.  The  next  day  (Sunday,  the 
28th)  was  bright  and  pleasant,  and  passed  in  quiet,  except  on 
the  picket-line,  where  some  rather  exciting  but  by  no  means 
dangerous  skirmishing  was  kept  up  until  evening,  when  the 
rebels  retired  across  Stewart's  Creek.  Before  dark  they  grew 
sufficiently  friendly  to  exchange  newspapers  with  the  Union 
pickets  on  the  other  side  of  the  stream. 

Rosecrans  had  half  expected  to  find  the  enemy  in  force  at 
Stewart's  Creek,  prepared  to  offer  battle;  but  when  the  Left 
Wing  advanced  on  Monday  morning,  it  encountered  little  oppo 
sition,  and  steadily  pushed  back  the  enemy's  skirmishers  seven 
and  a  half  miles  further,  or  to  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
Murfreesboro'.  Grose's  brigade,  which  this  day  had  the  advance 
upon  the  right  of  the  turnpike,  was  formed  in  two  lines,  of 
which  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  constituted  the  second ; 
marched  laboriously  in  line  of  battle  across  the  country,  abreast 
of  a  brigade  from  Wood's  division  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
road;  forded  Overall's  Creek,  and  late  in  the  day  halted  two 
hundred  yards  before  reaching  a  brick  house,  then  in  flames, 
situated  in  the  midst  of  a  large  cleared  space  near  the  point 
where  the  railroad  crosses  the  turnpike.  This  was  the  famous 


STOXE   RIVER.  393 

"Cowan's  Burnt  House,"  as  it  is  called  in  the  accounts  of 
Stone  River.  From  beyond  it  a  strong  line  of  rebel  skir 
mishers  had  already  fired  two  or  three  defiant  volleys,  wound 
ing  Corporal  Joseph  Reel,  of  Company  A,  Sixth  Ohio,  and 
two  men  in  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois ;  while,  as  it  afterward 
proved,  the  enemy's  main  line  was  intrenched  but  a  short 
distance  behind  the  railroad  directly  in  front.  Misled  by  a 
signal  message  from  Palmer,  somewhat  earlier  in  the  day,  to 
the  effect  that  the  enemy  wras  probably  evacuating,  Rosecrans 
ordered  Wood  to  ford  Stone  River  and  occupy  Murfreesboro'. 
The  Second  Division  remained  standing  in  line  for  two  hours 
or  more,  in  readiness  to  cooperate ;  then,  as  the  order  had  been 
countermanded,  the  troops  lay  down  and  slept  as  best  they 
could  under  a  pattering  rain. 

On  the  30th,  McCook's  three  divisions  slowly  fought  their 
way  into  position  on  the  right  of  General  Negley,  who  joined 
Palmer  in  the  cedars,  on  the  right,  as  Wood  did  at  the  turn 
pike  on  the  left.  Rousseau  also  came  up  from  beyond  Stew 
art's  Creek,  and  bivouacked  on  the  turnpike  near  General  Rose 
crans'  head-quarters,  in  reserve.  Palmer's  front  was  this  day 
covered  by  the  First  and  Third  Brigades,  the  latter  extending 
across  an  old  cotton-field,  from  the  turnpike  to  the  cedars,  and 
formed  in  two  lines,  as  usual,  with  the  Sixth  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio  in  advance.  Brisk  skirmishing  was  kept  up  at  the 
front,  two  or  three  Sixth  Ohio  companies  taking  their  turn  with 
the  rest,  and  bullets  were  continually  dropping  among  the 
troops  as  they  sat  or  squatted  in  line.  A  few  casualties  oc 
curred,  principally  in  the  Sixth  Ohio.  Heavy  fighting  was 
heard  upon  the  right  during  the  afternoon,  and  the  day  closed 
with  an  artillery  duel,  in  which  Parsons  led  off  in  silencing 
the  rebels.  Three  hours  after  dark  Grose's  brigade  was  re- 


394  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

lieved  by  Hazen's,  and  retired  to  a  comfortable  bivouac  in  the 
cedars. 

About  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  the  sound 
of  artillery  broke  out  heavily  in  the  direction  of  the  Right, 
quickly  followed  by  an  under-tone,  which  the  troops  recognized 
at  once  as  rapid,  though  distant  musketry.  Rosecrans'  plan  of 
battle  had  been  to  throw  the  Left  Wing  across  Stone  River  in 
overwhelming  force,  crush  Breckinridge,  who  was  covering 
Murfreesboro',  and  then,  moving  to  the  right,  to  sweep  the 
whole  rebel  line,  division  after  division,  clear  around  to  the 
front  of  McCook.  In  this  programme  every  thing  depended 
upon  McCook's  holding  his  ground  until  Crittenden  and 
Thomas  had  been  allowed  time  to  execute  their  allotted  tasks. 
Van  Cleve's  division  was  already  across  Stone  River,  Wood 
was  about  to  follow,  and  Palmer  was  ready  to  move  in  coopera 
tion,  when  the  rapidly-nearing  roar  of  battle  upon  the  other 
flank,  and  the  drifting  of  immense  masses  of  flying  troops  to 
ward  the  left  and  rear,  conveyed  to  Rosecrans,  with  appalling 
certainty,  the  tidings  of  overwhelming  disaster  to  the  Right, 
and  the  fearful  jeopardy  of  his  whole  army  in  consequence. 
How  grandly  he  rose  above  all  the  emergencies  of  that  awful 
day,  saving  the  battle  by  personal  effort  and  magnificent  ex 
ample  after  it  had  been  lost,  and  wresting  victory  at  last  from 
the  grasp  of  resentful  Fortune,  is  a  brilliant  page  in  history  to 
which  we  can  only  refer  in  passing,  and  must  now  confine  our 
attention  to  the  part  borne  by  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  its  imme 
diate  associates,  in  the  fateful  strife  of  Stone  River. 

After  standing  some  time  in  line  and  countermarching  in 
the  cedars,  the  Third  Brigade,  at  about  eight  o'clock,  moved 
out  into  the  cotton-field,  just  as  the  rear  of  Rousseau's  division 
was  filing  by  and  up  into  the  cedars.  The  Third  Ohio  was  in 
that  column,  as  were  also  the  batteries  of  Loomis  and  Guenther ; 


STONE   RIVER.  395 

and  in  the  latter  (formerly  Ter rill's)  the  Sixth  Ohio  saw  Lieu 
tenant  Liullow  again,  with  other  friends,  of  Shiloh  fame.  The 
firing  was  drawing  near  now,  and  such  signs  of  disaster  ap 
peared  as  could  not  be  mistaken.  Scarcely  had  the  batteries 
disappeared  in  the  timber,  when  Colonel  Grose,  by  Palmer's 
order,  executed  a  rapid  change  of  front  to  the  rear,  to  protect 
the  right  of  the  division,  which  was  about  to  be  taken  in  flank 
and  rear,  at  the  same  time  that  a  furious  assault  was  delivered 
upon  its  front.  In  the  new  formation,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was 
nearest  the  enemy,  having  the  left  of  the  front  line,  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana,  upon  its  right,  with  the  proper  interval  between, 
and  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  drawn  up  in  the  second 
line.  Immediately  upon  executing  the  change  of  front,  Colonel 
Anderson  gave  the  command,  "  Forward ! "  and  the  regiment 
advanced  rapidly  about  two  hundred  yards  into  the  cedars, 
meeting  great  numbers  of  stragglers,  fugitives,  and  wounded 
men,  falling  back  in  disorder  from  the  battle,  which  was  now 
raging  close  at  hand.  The  lines  were  hurriedly  dressed,  and 
then — the  regiment  was  in  action !  Scarcely  two  hundred 
yards  distant  was  the  head  of  a  rebel  column,  massed  for  attack 
with  regimental  front,  and  sweeping  down  through  the  cedars. 
Troops  never  went  into  action  in  better  spirits  than  did  the 
Sixth  Ohio  here.  The  regiment  fought  desperately,  giving 
volley  for  volley  and  cheer  for  cheer,  until,  within  twenty  min 
utes,  nearly  one-third  of  its  number  lay  dead  or  wounded  at  its 
feet ;  then  the  Colonel  gave  the  command,  "  Fix  bayonets ! " 
with  the  desperate  resolve  of  clearing  the  front  with  cold  steel. 
The  next  moment  he  discovered  that  the  regiment  was  flanked 
upon  both  sides,  no  available  supports  were  at  hand,  and  noth 
ing  now  remained  but  to  get  out  of  the  wood  at  once. 

Less  chary  of  praise  than  Grose  or  Palmer,  General  Rousseau 
was  afterward  at  especial   pains  to  compliment  the  staunch 


396  THE   STOEY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

fighting  of  the  Sixth  Ohio ;  *  and  well  those  troops  deserved 
it,  who,  with  the  help  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  held  the 
enemy  in  check  long  enough  to  afford  time  for  the  batteries  in 
the  rear  to  take  position,  whence  they  broke  the  rebel  line  as 
it  came  careering  across  the  cotton-field  in  pursuit  of  the  re 
treating  infantry,  and  sent  it  a  routed,  flying  mass  of  gray  far 
back  into  the  forest.  When  the  Sixth  Ohio  reformed,  as  it 
promptly  did,  behind  Parsons'  guns,  near  the  turnpike,  it  was 
with  fearfully-thinned  ranks,  and  hearts  that  bled  for  the  com 
rades  who  were  stretched  helpless  under  the  cedars.  Adjutant 
Williams  was  killed,  Lieutenant  Foster  dying,  Captain  Mc- 
Alpin  hurt  unto  death,  and  Lieutenant  Schieffer  severely 
wounded.  Both  color  sergeants  and  three  of  their  guard  had 
been  struck  down  in  quick  succession,  and  the  colors  had  been 
brought  off  most  gallantly  by  young  Corporal  Thorp,  of  Com 
pany  B,  who  claimed  the  precious  charge  as  his  own,  and  scarce 
would  suffer  the  Colonel  to  take  it  from  his  hands,  to  organize 
the  nucleus  of  another  formation.  Colonel  Anderson,  though 
painfully  wounded  in  the  thigh,  refused  to  leave  the  field,  and 
remained  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  through  the  whole  fight. 
A  score  of  gory  corpses — brave  men  but  half  an  hour  before — 
marked  the  line  where  the  Sixth  had  fought,  and  five  score 
more  were  suffering  there,  or  wending  their  painful  way  toward 
the  rear  in  search  of  the  surgeon. 

The  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and 
Eighty-fourth  Illinois  were  re-posted  while  the  terrific  fight 
ing  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  was  in  prog 
ress  in  the  cedars,  and  poured  a  withering  fire  into  the  enemy's 
charging  column  as  it  emerged  into  the  cotton-field.  As  yet 

*  "  The  Sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  Colonel  Nick  Anderson,  joined  my  com 
mand  on  the  right  of  the  Regular  Brigade,  and  stood  manfully  up  to  the 
work" — General  Rousseau  s  Official  Report. 


STONE   RIVER.  397 

they  were  unshaken.  But  the  rebels  again  advanced  in  about 
half  an  hour,  when  the  brunt  of  the  fighting  fell  upon  them. 
The  combat  was  obstinate  and  bloody,  but,  with  the  help  of 
artillery  as  before,  the  rebels  were  once  more  and  finally  driven 
back  into  the  timber,  with  heavy  losses  on  both  sides.  The 
Third  Brigade  then  changed  front,  and  moved  to  the  left  a 
short  distance  to  support  Colonel  Hazen,  whose  devoted  com 
mand  had  already  held  the  "  Round  Forest,"  the  key -point  of 
the  field,  against  treble  its  numbers,  through  a  most  furious 
assault.  The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  so  much  of  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  as  had  yet  been  re-assembled,  were  thrown  for 
ward  upon  the  right  of  the  turnpike,  and  had  another  terrible 
conflict  with  the  enemy.  Here  the  former  regiment  suffered 
its  heaviest  losses,  and  that  true  man  and  splendid  soldier, 
Colonel  Fred.  Jones,  was  mortally  wounded,  Major  Terry  fall 
ing  immediately  afterward.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was  formed  diag 
onally  across  the  turnpike,  under  orders  to  hold  the  position, 
which  were  obeyed,  although  the  regiment  was  under  almost 
constant  fire,  and  many  more  brave  men  were  there  killed  or 
wounded.  During  several  hours  of  this  day  it  acted  in  coop- 
Aeration  with  Hascall's  brigade,  which  was  nobly  sustaining 
Hazen's  in  holding  the  Round  Forest,  and  won  high  praise 
from  its  old  commander  of  Camp  AVickliffe  times.* 

*"  Colonel  Hazen,  commanding  a  brigade  in  General  Palmer's  division, 
was  present  with  his  brigade  to  the  left  of  the  railroad,  and  Colonel  Grose, 
commanding  another  brigade  in  the  same  division,  was  also  present  with 
what  there  was  left  of  his  brigade,  and  most  nobly  did  he  cooperate  with 
me,  with  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  to  the  right  of  the  railroad. 

I  then  threw  forward  the  right  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment 

(of  Colonel  Grose's  brigade),  which  was  on  the  right  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
Ohio,  so  that  its  line  of  battle  was  more  nearly  perpendicular  to  the  rail 
road,  and  so  its  fire  would  sweep  the  front  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Ohio  and 


398  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Night  fell  at  last,  and  the  left,  alone  of  all  the  line,  retained 
its  original  position  of  the  morning.  Four  distinct  and  des 
perate  charges  had  the  enemy  made  upon  the  Round  Forest, 
and  two  of  these  the  Sixth  Ohio  (after  its  first  fearful  losses  in 
the  cedars)  had  assisted  in  repelling.  About  midnight  the 
regiment  was  relieved  by  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  then 

Fifty-eighth  Indiana,  and  supported  the  Sixth  Ohio  with  Estep's  battery, 
on  a  little  eminence  to  its  right,  and  brought  up  the  Ninety-seventh  Ohio, 
Colonel  Lane,  from  Wagner's  brigade,  to  still  further  strengthen  the  right 
These  dispositions  being  made,  I  galloped  a  little  to  the  rear  and  found 
General  Rosecrans,  and  called  his  attention  to  the  importance  of  the  posi 
tion  I  was  holding,  and  the  necessity  of  keeping  it  well  supported.  He 
rode  to  the  front  with  me,  approved  of  the  dispositions  I  had  made,  spoke 
a  few  words  of  encouragement  to  the  men,  cautioning  them  to  hold  their 
fire  until  the  enemy  had  got  well  up,  and  had  no  sooner  retired  than  the 
enemy  emerged  from  the  woods  and  over  the  hill,  and  were  moving  upon 
us  again  in  splendid  style  and  in  great  force.  As  soon  as  they  came  in 
sight,  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-sixth  Ohio  and  Estep's  battery  opened  on 
them  and  did  splendid  execution;  but  on  they  came  till  within  one  hun 
dred  yards  of  our  line,  when  Colonel  Buell,  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Indiana  [a 
very  large  regiment],  who  had  lost  three  men,  but  had  not  fired  a  gun, 
ordered  his  men  to  fire.  The  effect  is  indescribable.  The  enemy  fell  in 
winrows,  and  went  staggering  back  from  the  effects  of  this  unexpected 
volley.  Soon,  however,  they  came  up  again  and  assaulted  us  furiously  for 
about  one  and  a  half  hours;  but  the  men  all  stood  their  ground  nobly, 
and,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  compelled  the  enemy  to  retire  as  before. 
The  regiments  all  behaved  splendidly  again,  and  the  Fifty-eighth  Indiana 
won  immortal  honors.  *-,.,.  .  .  The  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 
did  noble  service,  as  did  the  Ninety -seventh  also ;  but  their  own  imme 
diate  commanders  will,  no  doubt,  allude  to  them  more  particularly.  Thus 

ended  the  third  [fourth]  assault  upon  the  position The 

Twenty-sixth  Ohio  was  afterward  relieved  by  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky. 
The  enemy,  having  been  three  several  times  repulsed  in  their  attack  on 
that  position,  seemed  satisfied  to  keep  at  a  respectful  distance,  and  the  sun 
set  upon  us  masters  of  the  situation." — O-eneral  Hascall's  Official  Report. 


STONE   RIVER.  399 

moved  a  short  distance  to  the  rear.  Those  cold  and  dreary 
bivouacs  on  the  nights  amid  the  battle — what  survivor  of  Stone 
River  will  ever  forget  them  ?  In  the  mud,  the  rain,  the  dark 
ness,  without  fires,  and  thousands  without  food,  full  of  anxiety 
for  the  unknown  fate  of  friends  and  comrades,  ceaselessly  on  the 
watch,  and  weighed  down  by  terrible  suspense  for  the  undecided 
issue !  And  the  thousands  of  wounded !  numb  and  freezing 
in  their  saturated  garments,  without  shelter  or  food,  alone  with 
their  helpless  agony  and  God,  or  surrounded  only  by  taunting 

enemies,  if  not  abused  and  robbed  by  them God 

be  praised  for  the  return  of  PEACE  to  our  troubled  land ! 

The  morning  of  Thursday,  January  1st,  1863,  dawned 
gloomily,  but  in  comparative  quiet,  which  was  not  seriously 
disturbed  all  day ;  for  Bragg  was  waiting  to  see  his  beaten  an 
tagonist  (as  he  fondly  believed  him)  retreat  in  haste  for  Nash 
ville,  and  Rosecrans  for  supplies  and  ammunition  wherewith  to 
renew  the  battle.  During  the  night  the  Union  lines  had  been 
perfected,  Crittenden's  three  divisions  concentrated  on  the  left 
of  the  turnpike,  and  Hazen's  brigade,  with  its  supports,  with 
drawn  about  three  hundred  yards  for  better  position.  This 
last  movement  completely  turned  the  head  of  poor  Bragg,  who 
forthwith  telegraphed  to  Richmond,  "  The  enemy  has  yielded 
his  strong  point,  and  is  falling  back.  We  occupy  the  whole 
field,  and  shall  follow.  God  has  granted  us  a  happy  new-year ! " 
Less  of  boasting  and  more  of  truth  would  have  made  his  sanc 
timony  less  ridiculous.  The  greater  part  of  Grose's  brigade 
this  day  passed  several  hours  upon  the  further  bank  of  Stone 
River,  whither  it  was  sent  to  support  Van  Cleve's  division 
(now  commanded  by  Colonel  Beatty,  of  the  Nineteenth  Ohio), 
but  returned  before  night,  leaving  every  thing  perfectly  quiet  in 
that  quarter.  Lieutenant  Donovan  and  First  Sergeant  Throop, 
who  had  been  left  in  Nashville  sick,  joined  the  Sixth  Ohio 


400  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

early  in  the  forenoon,  and  took  command  of  their  respective 
companies,  E  and  A.  They  had  marched  from  Nashville 
almost  alone,  and  in  great  danger  of  being  cut  off  by  the  rebel 
cavalry  that  were  swarming  in  the  army's  rear. 

On  Friday,  the  2d,  the  brigade  was  again  thrown  across 
Stone  River,  and  in  the  afternoon  had  the  pleasure  of  covering 
the  retreat  of  Van  Cleve's  division,  as  it  fell  back  in  disorder 
before  a  fierce  charge  of  Breckinridge's  heavy  division,  and  of 
taking  a  conspicuous  part  in  breaking  the  lines  of  the  latter, 
tearing  them  into  fragments,  and  pursuing  them  almost  a  mile 
toward  Murfreesboro'.  In  this  charge  the  rebels  lost  about 
two  thousand  men,  the  concentrated  fire  of  fifty-eight  guns 
raining  death  upon  them  at  every  step  for  fully  fifteen  minutes. 
The  Sixth  Ohio  and  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  posted  behind 
slight  barricades,  formed  the  second  line  of  Grose's  brigade, 
and  theirs  was  the  fire  which  first  checked  and  staggered  the 
rebel  column,  much  of  whose  momentum  had  already  been 
spent  in  sweeping  away  the  troops  in  front.  The  loss  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio  in  this  glorious  afternoon's  work  was  two  killed 
and  five  wounded — few  in  numbers,  but  a  precious  sacrifice 
notwithstanding.  David  H.  Medary,  of  Company  B — the 
"  little  corporal "  of  the  regiment,  and  model  soldier — was  one 
of  the  killed ;  while  among  the  wounded  were  Captain  Tinker, 
of  Company  H,  and  private  Pedro  Montaldo,  of  Company  K, 
a  liberal  in  his  native  Spain,  a  gentleman  of  fine  education,  and 
one  of  the  truest  patriots  that  ever  championed  Freedom's 
cause  in  battle. 

Saturday,  the  3d,  was  more  rainy  than  ever.  Bragg  took 
his  Friday's  punishment  very  sorely,  and,  when  Sunday  morn 
ing  dawned,  it  was  discovered  that  he  had  withdrawn  during 
the  night,  and  was  now  in  full  retreat  upon  Shelbyville  and 
Tullahoma.  Grose's  regiments  recrossed  Stone  River,  and, 


STONE  RIVER.  401 

like  the  rest  of  the  army,  began  the  sad  work  of  searching  for 
their  own  dead,  to  honor  them  with  special  burial,  and  then 
of  hunting  out  their  widely-scattered  wounded.  Within  a  day 
or  two  the  whole  army  moved  into  and  beyond  Murfreesboro', 
and  thej'e  sat  down  to  rest,  to  count  its  losses  over,  and  prepare 
for  whatsoever  else  of  soldier's  duty  the  future  might  have  in 
store  for  it. 

It  is  a  matter  of  sincere  regret  to  the  writer  that  his  data  are 
so  meager  in  regard  to  the  gallant  actions  of  individual  mem 
bers  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  especially  of  those  who  fell  in  the 
battle's  front,  or  were  maimed  and  sorely  wounded  there ;  but, 
while  shrinking  from  the  task  of  attempting  special  eulogy  in 
a  tithe  of  the  cases  where  it  is  merited,  he  gladly  presents  the 
following  outlines  of  the  careers  of  those  heroic  officers  whose 
lives  formed  a  part  of  the  regiment's  costly  sacrifice  at  Stone 
River. 

Captain  Henry  McAlpin  was  born  of  Scotch  ancestry,  on 
the  12th  of  October,  1831,  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  passed  his 
early  school -days,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  was  sent  to  the 
boarding-school  of  Milo  G.  Williams  (a  name  very  familiar  to 
old  Cincinnatians),  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  In  1850  or  '51,  he  en 
tered  the  store  of  Tyler  Davidson  &  Co.,  and,  having  there 
made  himself  familiar  with  the  hardware  trade,  afterward  went 
into  business  at  Dayton,  in  a  retail  store  of  his  own.  He  re 
mained  there  about  two  years,  when,  finding  the  retail  business 
in.  the  country  unsuited  to  his  tastes,  he  sold  his  store,  returned 
to  Cincinnati,  and  secured  a  partnership  in  the  firm  of  McAl 
pin,  Hinman  &  Co.,  which  he  retained  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
Having  long  been  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the 
Guthrie  Grey  organization,  and  an  ardent  patriot  all  his  life, 
when  the  President's  first  call  for  troops  was  issued  he  volunr 
26 


402  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

teered  at  once  in  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and,  by  successive  promotions 
(as  already  noted  in  their  chronological  order),  rose  to  the  cap 
taincy  of  Company  B.  When  the  army  moved  to  attack  Bragg 
at  Murfreesboro7,  he  was  ill — fitter  by  far  for  the  hospital  than 
the  exposure  and  hardships  of  an  active  campaign  at  midwin 
ter — but  refused  to  remain  at  Nashville,  though  repeatedly 
urged  to  do  so.  He  marched  at  the  head  of  his  company,  led 
it  into  action  most  gallantly,  and,  in  the  desperate  struggle  in 
the  cedars,  received  a  terrible  wound  from  a  fragment  of  shell. 
As  soon  as  possible,  he  was  removed  to  Nashville,  where  he 
died  on  the  10th  of  January  (1863).  Friends  brought  the 
body  home,  and,  with  military  honors,  it  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Spring  Grove  Cemetery.  Captain  McAlpin  was  an  efficient 
and  most  conscientious  officer,  thoroughly  systematic,  a  punc 
tilious  disciplinarian,  and  scrupulously  just  in  the  exercise  of 
official  authority.  As  a  man,  he  was  incapable  of  subterfuge 
or  meanness  of  any  kind.  He  was  a  most  genial  companion 
and  devoted  friend,  quiet  and  unassuming  in  manner,  yet  bold 
and  determined  in  championing  what  he  felt  to  be  right  and 
true.  He  was  greatly  beloved  in  life,  and  in  death  most 
tenderly  mourned. 

Albert  Gallatin  Williams  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  August 
7th,  1839,  and,  when  the  war  broke  out,  was  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business,  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Owen  Owens,  on  Third 
Street.  He  enlisted  in  Company  F,  Sixth  Ohio  (three-months' 
term),  as  a  private,  was  soon  appointed  sergeant,  and,  step  by 
step,  rose  to  the  adjutancy  of  the  regiment.  Early  in  the  Stone 
River  battle,  he  was  pierced  by  a  musket-ball  and  killed  almost 
instantly.  His  body  was  not  recovered  until  after  the  rebels 
abandoned  the  field,  when  it  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  Lieu 
tenant  Thatcher  and  other  officers,  and  sent  home.  The  marble 
head-stone  which  marks  his  grave  at  Spring  Grove  is  almost  in 


STONE   RIVER.  403 

sight  of  the  window  at  which  these  lines  are  sadly  written. 
Colonel  Anderson's  tribute  to  his  memory  was  no  less  true  than 
beautiful :  "  Few  men  combined  so  harmoniously  the  energies 
of  the  soldier  with  the  virtues  of  the  man.  In  him  they  never 
seemed  to  be  in  conflict.  Amiability  and  generosity  found  full 
play  in  his  disposition,  and  his  mind  was  as  pure  and  gentle  as 
a  child's.  How  tenderly  he  loved !  how  desperately  he  fought ! 
Always  cheerful,  busy,  and  cordial  while  in  camp,  upon  the 
battle-field  he  was  the  impersonation  of  energy  and  valor. 
But  he  is  gone.  He  died  proudly,  as  soldiers  love  to  die,  but 
leaving  sadness  behind  him.  His  regiment  mourn  the  brave 
soldier ;  his  family  the  gentle  and  loving  son  and  brother." 

Charles  Henry  Foster  was  the  son  of  Charles  Foster,  Esq. 
(now  residing  at  Wilmington,  Del.),  the  inventor  of  the  "  Fos 
ter  Press,"  and  many  other  useful  articles  of  machinery  for 
printing  purposes.  He  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  on  the  17th  of 
November,  1837,  graduated  at  Herron's  Seminary,  and,  when 
the  war  began,  had  been  for  some  time  in  the  employ  of  W.  T. 
&  S.  D.  Day  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  printing  presses,  etc.,  as 
book-keeper.  Going  to  the  post-office  on  the  17th  of  April 
(1861),  the  day  after  the  Guthrie  Greys  began  recruiting  their 
regiment,  he  met  some  friends  who  had  just  enlisted,  and,  fired 
anew  by  their  example,  resolved  to  follow  out  the  patriotic  im 
pulses  which  he  had  hitherto  kept  in  abeyance  from  a  sense  of 
duty  to  his  employers.  Lest  the  latter  might  possibly  dissuade 
him  still,  he  explained  his  absence  by  a  note,  and  did  not  trust 
himself  in  their  presence  again  until  after  he  had  been  out  to 
Camp  Harrison  and  mustered  in  the  Sixth  Ohio.  Promptly 
reenlisting,  he  became  sergeant,  and  then  first  sergeant  in  Com 
pany  B,  and,  upon  receiving  the  promotion  to  a  second  lieuten 
ancy  that  his  ability  and  faithful  services  had  merited  so  well, 
be  was  transferred  to  Company  A,  which  he  was  commanding 


404  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

when  killed.  While  animating  his  men  by  an  example  of 
dauntless  courage,  he  was  struck  down  by  a  musket-ball,  and 
bled  to  death  in  a  short  time.  Like  the  brave  Wolfe,  his  last 
words  were  a  murmured  expression  of  contentment  and  resig 
nation  to  his  fate  on  being  told  the  enemy  had  been  repulsed 
and  were  flying  from  the  field.  Exemplary  in  his  private  life, 
with  a  generous  and  open  nature,  Lieutenant  Foster  won  the 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  left  his  friends  the  proud  in 
heritance  of  a  fame  untarnished  by  a  single  stain.  He,  too,  lies 
buried  at  Spring  Grove. 


COLONEL  ANDERSON'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

SAINT  CLOUD  HOTEL,  NASHVILLE,  ) 
January  7,  1863.  J 

Colonel  W.  Grose,  Commanding  Tenth  Brigade — • 

COLONEL  :  In  accordance  with  orders  from  head-quarters,  I  have 
the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
Sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers  in  the  late  series  of  battles  be 
ginning  on  the  morning  of  December  31st. 

At  about  8  o'clock  A.  M.  on  that  day  we  were  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle,  in  the  open  field  to  the  north  [west]  of  the  burnt  brick 
house  [Cowan's],  and  to  the  west  [north]  of  the  cedars,  while 
Rousseau's  division  filed  by  us  to  get  position.  Scarcely  had  the 
rear  of  that  column  passed  when  heavy  firing  was  heard  to  our 
right,  coming  from  the  cedars  and  approaching  rapidly.  I  was 
ordered  with  my  regiment  into  the  wood.  I  immediately  changed 
front  and  advanced  some  two  hundred  yards,  when  I  saw  our  troops 
flying  in  wild  disorder,  and  hotly  pursued  by  the  enemy.  I  formed 
my  line,  and  waited  the  escape  of  our  men  and  the  nearer  advance 
of  the  enemy.  In  a  few  moments  a  terrific  fire  was  opened  on  us, 
scarcely  a  hundred  yards  distant,  from  a  rebel  line  apparently  four 
deep.  This  fire  we  returned,  and  a  terrible  carnage  ensued  on 


STONE   RIVER.  405 

both  sides.  Finding  myself  badly  pressed,  I  had  determined  on  a 
charge,  and  the  order  was  already  given  to  fix  bayonets,  when  I 
saw  that  my  regiment  was  flanked  almost  completely  on  both  sides, 
by  two  rebel  regiments.  I  gave  the  order  to  fall  back  firing.  As 
soon  as  we  reached  the  edge  of  the  woods,  Lieutenant  Parsons,  of 
the  Fourth  Regular  Artillery,  opened  on  the  enemy  with  terrible 
effect,  and  I  reformed  my  line  behind  his  guns,  having  held  my 
position  against  tremendous  odds,  but  with  great  sacrifice,  for 
thirty  minutes.  I  then  replenished  my  ammunition,  and  was  soon 
afterward  ordered  to  throw  my  regiment  diagonally  across  the 
Murfreesboro'  pike,  and  hold  that  position.  This  we  did,  under  a 
destructive  fire  and  with  much  additional  loss,  during  the  rest  of 
the  day  and  until  midnight,  when  I  was  relieved  by  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio,  and  took  my  regiment  a  short  distance  to  the  rear. 

During  the  first  day  of  January  my  regiment  was  moved  from 
one  place  to  another,  as  the  plan  of  battle  required,  but  did  not 
get  into  any  considerable  action.  On  Friday,  the  2d,  my  regiment 
was  ordered  with  the  brigade  across  the  river,  and  placed  in  posi 
tion  on  a  slight  eminence  to  the  rear  of,  and  as  a  support  to,  Van 
Cleve's  division.  All  was  quiet  until  about  half-past  3  o'clock 
P.  M.,  when  a  tremendous  fire  was  heard  along  our  front,  and  im 
mense  masses  of  the  enemy  were  hurled  against  Van  Cleve's  divis 
ion,  which  soon  gave  way.  The  enemy  came  down  boldly,  when 
I  brought  my  regiment  into  action  simultaneously  with. the  Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois,  and  we  opened  a  severe  cross-fire  on  the  enemy. 
For  more  than  an  hour  we  held  our  hill,  and,  under  our  heavy  fire 
and  that  of  a  battery  from  the  other  side  of  the  river,  the  rebels 
gave  way,  and,  when  reinforcements  poured  in  for  us,  they  were 
already  in  full  retreat.  We  held  our  position  without  further  mo 
lestation  till  Sunday  morning,  when  we  were  ordered  across  the 
river  into  camp,  the  enemy  having  retired. 

My  regiment,  both  officers  and  men,  I  am  proud  to  say,  behaved 
with  bravery,  courage,  and  discipline  throughout  the  entire  battle. 
The  loss  of  the  regiment  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven, 


406  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

nearly  all  of  whom  were  either  killed  or  wounded.     Accompanying 
is  a  correct  list  of  the  casualties. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

N.  L.  ANDERSON, 

Colonel  Sixth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry. 

CASUALTIES  IN  THE  SIXTH  OHIO. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  went  into  action  at  Stone  River  with  an 
aggregate  strength  of  383 — officers  and  men ;  of  which  number 
24  were  killed,  19  mortally  wounded,  108  wounded  so  severely 
as  to  require  surgical  treatment  for  various  periods,  from  one 
month  upward,  and  12  were  reported  missing  in  action,  making 
a  total  of  163,*  as  follows.  This  numeration  omits  14  slightly 
wounded  not  sent  to  hospital,  which  accounts  for  the  slight 
discrepancy  with  the  above  report.  Of  the  missing  some  were 
wounded  before  being  taken  prisoners : 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. — Killed — Adjutant  A.  G.  Williams.  Wounded 
— Colonel  N.  L.  Anderson  and  Sergeant-Major  J.  F.  Graham. 

COMPANY  A. — Killed — Second  Lieutenant  C.  H.  Foster  and 
private  Wm.  S.  Shaw.  Mortally  wounded — Sergeant  James  F. 

*  It  is  believed  that  not  more  than  six  or  eight  regiments  in  the  entire 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  lost  more  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded  than  did 
the  Sixth  Ohio.  Among  the  number  that  did  so  were  the  following: 
Twenty -first  Illinois  (General  Grant's  old  regiment,  which  was  badly  cut 
up  in  charging  a  battery  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  December  30th),  loss  244 ; 
Thirty-sixth  Illinois,  193;  and  Eighteenth  U.  S.  Infantry  (comprising 
twenty-four  companies  when  full),  271.  These  were  considerably  stronger 
regiments  than  the  Sixth  Ohio.  The  Eighty-fourth  Illinois  lost  147  killed 
and  wounded,  out  of  an  aggregate  of  362 — about  the  same  per  cent,  as  did 
the  Sixth  Ohio.  Its  killed  and  mortally  wounded  numbered  64,  which  was 
by  far  the  heaviest  per  centage  of  any  regiment  in  Grose's  brigade.  Its 
fighting  at  Stone  River  was  splendid  throughout.  The  total  loss  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio  was  a  fraction  over  forty-two  and  one-half  per  cent. 


STONE   RIVER.  407 

Canady,  and  privates  Frank  II.  Halliday  and  Wm.  Krohmer. 
Wounded — Corporal  Jos.  Reel,  and  privates  Chas.  M.  Thompson 
and  Henry  Herman.  Missing — Corporal  James  M.  Newman. 

COMPANY  B. — Killed — Corp.  David  H.  Medary,  and  privates 
Albert  Hardy  and  John  Boerst.  Mortally  wounded — Captain 
Henry  McAlpin.  Wounded — First  Sergeant  Geo.  W.  Cormany, 
Corporal  E.  Hannaford,  privates  Guy  C.  Nearing,  Albert  Goettle, 
Theophilus  Davis,  James  Mitchell,  Fred.  J.  Miller,  John  Helfen- 
bein,  Andrew  Schuttenhelm,  William  E.  Doherty,  John  Cline, 
Anson  Clapper,  Hugo  Hochstaedter,  and  J.  Hahuenian. 

COMPANY  C. — Killed — Corporal  Alois  Kaelin.  Wounded — Ser 
geants  Wm.  Brown,  John  Crotty,  and  Aug.  W.  Peters  (color  ser 
geant)  ;  Corporals  Frank  H.  Thienian,  James  Jordan,  Edward  P. 
Horn,  and  John  C.  Hefferman ;  privates  Wm.  Boyd,  And.  Schube, 
Jacob  Stocklin,  H.  Stocklin,  John  Laerch,  Win.  Lidell,  and  W.  A. 
Baldwin.  Missing — Corporal  John  Sykes  and  private  Edward 
Ayres. 

COMPANY  D. — Mortally  wounded — Private  Adam  Hugel.  Wound 
ed — Sergeant  Wm.  Bowers  and  Amos  Willoughby,  Corporal  Lib 
erty  H.  Jenks,  privates  Frank  Dellar,  Reinhold  Hoffman,  Frank 
A.  Manns,  Fred.  Soghan,  Stephen  H.  Weeks,  Wm.  W.  Williams, 
Martin  Weiderecht,  A.  C.  Dripps,  John  Wakeman,  S.  W.  Stephen- 
son,  and  Simon  Weeks.  Missing — Private  Luther  Carpenter, 
James  H.  Mahon,  and  Wm.  Saxon ;  musician  Wm.  A.  Cormany. 

COMPANY  E. — Killed — Privates  Simeon  Shattuck,  Robert  Davis, 
Chas.  Davis,  Chas.  Deikmeyer,  and  Michael  Schwabe.  Mortally 
wounded — Private  Agathon  Otto.  Wounded — Corporal  William 
Leike,  privates  Jos.  L.  Ferdon,  Eugene  Diserens,  John  O'Neil, 
Chas.  H.  Baldwin,  Thos.  Greenwood,  Edmund  M.  Hall,  Samuel 
Schroder,  Geo.  W.  Bowen,  Chas.  Eckhardt,  Enoch  West,  and  Peter 
Kreps. 

COMPANY  F. — Killed — Corporal  Lewis  Evers  and  privates 
Christ.  Ark,  Thos.  Brown,  and  Henry  Willis.  Mortally  wounded 
— Privates  Gottfried  Heileman  and  John  Q.  Root.  Wounded — 


408  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Second  Lieutenant  F.  S.  Schieffer,  Sergeant  Wm.  E.  Jackson, 
Corporal  John  A.  Seigel,  and  privates  Wm.  Kessemeyer,  John 
Lawrence,  John  Linceman,  Jos.  T.  Nepper,  August  Nierman,  An 
thony  Schaffer,  Stuart  Terwilliger,  and  Wm.  R.  Wood.  Missing 
— Corporal  John  B.  Miller. 

COMPANY  G-. — Killed — First  Sergeant  Geo.  B.  Ridenour  and 
Corporal  Oliver  P.  Rockenfield.  Mortally  wounded — Privates  J. 
Addison  Colwell,  Robert  M.  Taulman,  and  Samuel  P.  Stallcup. 
Wounded — Corporals  Harry  Simmons  (color-guard)  and  J.  C. 
Schenck,  and  privates  Thos.  Burnett,  Silas  S.  Dunn,  Hamer  Brad 
bury,  Anson  W.  Schenck,  and  John  Fenhoff.  Missing — Corporal 
Wm.  A.  Clark,  and  privates  Chas.  S.  Dunn  and  And.  M.  Dunn. 

COMPANY  H. — Killed — Private  Chas.  Waltermet.  Mortally 
wounded — Privates  Martin  Seebauer  and  Henry  Rasher.  Wounded 
— Captain  H.  H.  Tinker,  Corporals  Thos.  Kennedy  (color-bearer), 
Chas.  Ashman,  and  Albert  Speece  (color-guard),  and  privates  Dele- 
van  Brown,  Samuel  Lawrence,  Edward  Ulm,  and  Lawrence  Geiss. 

COMPANY  I. — Killed — Privates  Samuel  Pulver,  Jacob  H.  Rap- 
plee,  and  Fred.  W.  Springmeyer.  Wounded — Corporal  Edward 
Roderija,  and  privates  And.  Ray,  Jos.  Seiter,  John  McGlore,  Sam 
uel  Parker,  Gottlieb  Heller,  F.  Larcom,  John  Storker,  and  Christ. 
Kohli. 

COMPANY  K. — Killed — Sergeant  Thos.  G.  Drake  and  private 
Theo.  Wesselman.  Mortally  wounded — Corporals  H.  G.  Kreyen- 
hagen  and  Jos.  Martin ;  and  privates  J.  Nickel,  Geo.  Kelsch, 
David  Klein,  and  Lewis  F.  Frantz.  Wounded — First  Sergeant 
Geo.  Benson  Nicholson,  Sergeants  W.  Pappenbrook  and  Jethro 
T.  Hill;  Corporals  Chas.  Donnelly  and  Albert  Kimble;  privates 
Pedro  Montaldo,  Wm.  Gain,  Henry  Beckman,  Chas.  Warner, 
Christ.  Albert,  Jos.  Haddock,  Henry  Ellsing,  Lorenz  Huber,  and 
Franz  Meier.  Missing — Private  Chas.  Cunningham. 


STONE    RIVER. 


409 


RECAPITULATION. 


£5 

»     CD 

.3  5 
.:     R» 

£ 
> 

S 

td 

n 

p 

P 

? 

b 

P 

H 

9 

** 

9 

P 

9 

w 

o 
p 

? 
M 

| 

Killed  

1 
"2 

2 
3 
3 
1 

3 
1 
14 

1 

14 

2 
17 

"i 

14 
4 
19 

5 
1 

12 

18 

4 

2 
11 

1 

18 

2 
3 
7 
3 
15 

1 
2 

8 

o 

"9 

2 
6 
.14 
1 
23 

21 

19 
108 
12 
1C3 

Mortally  wound'd. 
Wounded  

Missing  

Total  

3 

9 

18 

11 

12 

COLONEL  GROSE'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 


HEAD-QUARTERS  THIRD  BRIGADE,  SECOND  DIVISION,  -| 
LEFT  WING,  ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND,      I 
NEAR  MURFREESBORO',  TENN.,  Jan.  8,  1863.      J 
Captain  D.  W.  Norton,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Second  Division — 

SIR  :  In  accordance  with  duty,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the 
following  report  of  the  part  taken  by  my  brigade  in  the  recent  bat 
tles  before  Murfreesboro'.  The  five  regiments  composing  this  com 
mand — viz.:  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Major  Kinley;  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio,  Colonel  Jones ;  Sixth  Ohio,  Colonel  Anderson  ;  Eighty-fourth 
Illinois,  Colonel  Waters,  and  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  Major  Harn- 
rick — aggregate  (officers  and  men)  1,788 — left  camp  near  Nashville, 
December  26,  1862,  with  the  division,  and  bivouacked  that  night 
in  front  of  Lavergne,  twelve  miles  distant.  Next  day,  the  27th, 
we  moved  to  the  west  bank  of  Stewart's  Creek,  five  miles,  and  my 
brigade  was  put  in  position  in  front,  to  the  right  of  the  pike,  the 
pickets  of  the  enemy  separated  from  ours  by  the  creek.  With  light 
skirmishing,  we  rested  here  until  Monday  morning  (the  29th),  when 
we  received  orders,  and  moved  forward  in  double  line  of  battle,  on 
the  right  of  the  pike  (the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  and  Eighty-fourth 
Illinois  in  the  front  line),  wading  Stewart's  Creek — waist  deep  to 
most  of  the  men — and  advancing  to  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
Murfreesboro',  where  we  arrived  near  sunset,  with  skirmishing  all 
the  way.  We  there  rested  for  the  night.  At  early  morn  next 
day  skirmishing  again  commenced  and  continued  during  the  day, 
with  more  severity  than  before,  the  artillery  taking  a  heavy  part. 


410  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

During  the  night  the  brigade  was  relieved  at  the  front  by  the  bri 
gade  of  Colonel  Hazen,  and  retired  to  the  rear  to  rest,  and  to  be 
held  in  reserve.  Up  to  this  time  the  loss  in  my  brigade  was  ten 
wounded. 

On  the  bright  morning  of  December  31st,  the  division,  under 
command  of  its  brave  general,  at  early  day,  was  in  battle  line,  the 
brigade  of  General  Cruft  on  the  right,  and  that  of  Colonel  Hazen 
on  the  left — both  in  double  line — with  my  brigade  in  reserve  in 
rear  of  the  center,  in  supporting  distance,  with  the  batteries  of 
Cockerill  and  Parsons  in  positions  to  support  the  lines.  While  we 
were  perfecting  our  lines  in  the  morning  the  divisions  of  Generals 
Negley  (?)  and  Rousseau  filed  by  my  rear  through  a  dense  cedar 
grove,  which  lay  in  rear  of  General  Cruft's  brigade  and  immedi 
ately  up  to  the  right  of  my  brigade ;  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Hazeu 
in  an  open  cotton-field,  the  pike  dividing  his  left  from  the  division 
of  General  Wood,  and  the  line  of  these  two  divisions  resting  nearly 
perpendicular  to  the  pike.  The  engagement  had  been  raging 
fiercely  some  distance  to  our  right  during  the  early  morning,  and 
at  near  eight  o'clock  the  clash  of  arms  to  our  right  had  so  far 
changed  position  that  I  saw  the  rear  of  my  brigade  would  soon  be 
endangered.  Hence,  I  set  to  work  changing  my  front  to  the  rear, 
which  was  quickly  done,  with  the  left,  when  changed,  a  little  re 
tired,  to  support  the  right  of  Colonel  Hazen's  brigade,  then 
closely  engaged  with  the  enemy,  our  two  brigades  forming  a  V. 
My  brigade  was  no  sooner  thus  formed  to  the  rear  than  the  enemy 
appeared  in  heavy  lines,  pressing  the  forces  of  ours  that  had  been 
engaged  to  the  right  of  our  division  upon  our  front  in  fearful  con 
fusion.  In  this  new  formation  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  Thirty-sixth 
Indiana  were  in  the  front  line,  the  latter  on  the  right,  supported 
in  the  second  line  by  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky  and  the  Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois,  with  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  in  an  oblique  form,  a 
little  to  the  right  of  the  rear  line.  In  this  shape  the  Sixth  Ohio 
and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  advanced  into  the  woodland  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards,  and  there  met  the  enemy  in  overwhelm- 


STONE   RIVER.  411 

Ing  numbers.  Here  Major  Kinley  and  Captain  Shultz,  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  fell — the  former  badly  wounded  and  the  lat 
ter  killed.  Colonel  Anderson,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  was  here  wounded, 
and  his  adjutant,  Lieutenant  A.  Gr.  Williams,  and  Lieutenant  Fos 
ter  fell  dead,  with  several  of  their  comrades.  These  two  regiments 
were  forced  from  the  woodland,  and  retired  to  the  right,  in  the  di 
rection  of  the  pike ;  while  the  other  three  regiments,  aided  by  the 
eight-gun  battery  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Parsons,  with  such 
efficient  assistants  as  Lieutenants  Huntington  and  Cushing,  poured 
a  galling  fire  into  the  ranks  of  the  pursuing  enemy,  and  caused 
them  to  break  in  confusion  and  retire  back  to  the  woods,  out  of 
our  reach,  leaving  the  ground  covered  with  their  dead  and  dying, 
with  the  heavy  loss  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana 
lying  mingled  with  theirs  upon  the  bloody  field.  After  about 
half  or  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  the  enemy  renewed  his  attempt 
to  advance,  but  was  again  repulsed,  with  heavy  loss  on  both  sides. 
Between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock,  the  enemy  not  appearing  in 
our  immediate  front,  and  the  lines  of  our  forces  that  had  retired 
or  been  driven  from  the  right  being  by  this  time  reformed  parallel 
with  the  pike,  the  front  of  the  brigade  was  again  changed,  so  as  to 
assist  the  brigade  of  Colonel  Hazen,  in  the  direction  as  formed  in 
the  morning.  The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana 
were  soon  thrown  forward  near  the  pike,  and  had  a  terrible  conflict 
with  the  enemy.  Here  Colonel  Jones  and  Major  Terry  both  fell, 
and  were  carried  off  the  field  in  a  dying  condition.  Each  regiment 
of  the  brigade  from  this  time  onward  until  night  closed  the  awful 
scene,  alternately  took  its  part  in  holding  the  position  we  occupied 
in  the  morning. 

The  enemy  having  gained  the  cedar  woods  to  the  right,  where 
we  took  position  in  the  morning,  it  became  necessary  to  so  change 
our  position  as  not  to  be  within  reach  of  small  arms  from  that 
woodland.  Hence,  at  night-fall,  the  center  of  the  front  line  of 
the  brigade  lay  on  the  pike,  and  diagonally  across  the  same,  front 
ing  to  the  south-east,  our  left  resting  at  the  right  of  the  line  of 


412  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

General  Wood's  division.  We  were  then  a  little  retired,  arid  the 
center  of  the  brigade  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to  the  left 
of  where  we  commenced  in  the  morning.  We  ceased  fighting  for 
the  night  in  the  front  lines  on  the  pike.  During  the  day,  each  of  the 
regiments  having  exhausted  their  ammunition,  had  to  replenish  their 
cartridge-boxes,  many  having  fired  over  one  hundred  rounds. 
When  Major  Kinley  fell,  in  the  morning,  the  command  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  Indiana  devolved  upon  Captain  Woodward ;  and  upon 
the  fall  of  Colonel  Jones  and  Major  Terry,  Captain  Weller  was 
left  in  command  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio.  Although  I  com 
manded  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  fought  there  throughout  with  the 
rest  of  Buell's  army,  yet  this  battle,  on  the  last  day  of  the  old  year, 
was  by  far  the  most  terrible  and  bloody  (in  my  command)  that  I 
have  ever  witnessed.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  night — or, 
rather,  early  in  the  morning  of  January  1st — our  whole  line  was 
retired  for  a  more  eligible  position,  six  or  seven  hundred  yards, 
and  my  brigade  was  moved  to  the  rear  to  rest. 

During  Thursday,  January  1st,  we  were  ordered  across  to  the 
north  bank  of  Stone  River,  to  support  a  division  on  the  extreme 
left  of  our  line,  where  an  attack  was  anticipated,  but  returned  to 
our  resting-place  before  night,  no  attack  being  made  that  day. 
On  the  next  day,  January  2d,  in  the  forenoon,  we  were  again 
ordered  across  the  river,  to  support  the  division  there  in  position, 
with  its  right  resting  on  the  river  bank,  and  its  lines  (double 
lines)  formed  at  right  angles  to  the  river,  extending  therefrom 
about  half  a  mile.  About  eight  hundred  yards  below  where  the 
right  of  the  division  was  posted,  the  river  changes  its  direction, 
running  about  one-half  mile  in  the  rear,  and  nearly  parallel  to  the 
lines  of  the  division  formed  as  above.  When  my  brigade  arrived 
on  the  ground,  I  was  requested  to  put  it  into  position  so  as  to 
protect  the  left  flank  of  the  division  referred  to,  and  repel  any 
attack  that  might  be  made  in  that  direction.  The  Twenty-third 
Kentucky  was  accordingly  posted  to  the  left  of  the  division  in 
question,  about  two  hundred  yards  retired ;  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 


STONE   RIVER.  413 

three  hundred  yards  to  its  rear,  fronting  the  same  way;  and  the 
Thirty-sixth  Indiana  to  the  rear  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
fronting  diagonally  to  the  flank  of  the  other  two,  the  right  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  Indiana  distant  from  the  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  Special  directions  were 
given  each  of  these  regiments  to  change  front  as  the  exigencies, 
of  the  occasion  might  require,  in  case  of  an  attack.  The  Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois  and  Sixth  Ohio  were  placed  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  the  left  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  in  one  line,  and 
fronting  in  the  direction  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  and  Twenty- 
third  Kentucky,  as  well  as  in  that  of  the  division  to  our  right  and 
front.  The  right  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois  rested  on  the  bluff 
at  the  river,  with  the  Third  Wisconsin  Battery  near  its  left  and 
front.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was  on  the  left  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illi 
nois.  Thus  in  position,  I  took  the  precaution  to  have  each  regi 
ment  hurriedly  throw  before  them  barricades  of  such  materials  as 
were  at  command,  consisting  of  fences,  buildings,  etc.  About  half- 
past  three  P.  M.,  the  enemy  made  an  assault  in  front  and  on  the 
right,  in  strong  force — perhaps  in  three  lines — and  with  three  bat 
teries  distributed  along  the  forest,  and  a  heavy  contest  ensued,  last 
ing  from  one-half  to  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  when  the  lines  of 
the  division  gave  way  in  considerable  confusion,  and  as  those  troops 
retired  toward  the  river,  many  of  them  broke  through  the  lines  of 
my  brigade.  I  went  to  my  front  regiments  and  superintended  the 
changing  of  their  fronts  respectively,  so  as  to  meet  the  enemy  as 
best  we  could,  in  his  approach  from  an  unexpected  direction,  which, 
to  some  extent,  threw  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio,  my  advanced  regiments,  into  confusion,  and  caused 
them  to  retire  toward  the  left  of  the  main  line  of  the  brigade ;  but 
they  kept  up  a  strong  fire  on  the  advancing  enemy  as  they  retired. 
The  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  changed  its  front,  and  as  the  enemy's 
lines  came  near,  opened  on  them  a  deadly  fire.  On  they  came, 
however,  until  within  reach  of  the  Eighty -fourth  Illinois  and  Sixth 
Ohio,  behind  their  barricades,  when  both  these  regiments  saluted 


414  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

them  with  a  terrible  fire.  By  this  time,  all  my  regiments  were  en 
gaged,  and  the  enemy's  masses  began  to  falter,  and  soon  they  broke 
in  disorder  and  commenced  their  flight  back  over  the  area  they 
had  so  fiercely  advanced  upon,  pursued  by  the  Thirty-sixth  Indi- 
anav,  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  to  the  line 
occupied  by  the  extreme  outposts  of  the  division  before  the  action 
commenced.  Here  night  overtook  us.  The  battle  was  over,  and 
the  enemy  gone  beyond  the  reach  of  our  guns.  Colonel  Hazen's 
brigade  crossed  the  river  to  our  rear,  to  support  us,  about  the  time 
of  the  enemy's  retreat,  and  moved  closely,  with  the  Eighty -fourth 
Illinois,  after  my  pursuing  regiments  to  give  assistance  if  needed. 
Some  other  forces  [principally  from  Negley's  and  Davis'  divisions] 
crossed  the  river  to  my  right  and  moved  up  the  river  bank  in  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy,  as  my  regiments  advanced.  What  forces  these 
were  I  have  not  learned.  The  battery  posted  near  the  brigade  at 
the  commencement  of  this  day's  fight  fired  a  few  rounds  and  took 
a  hasty  leave,  and  I  have  not  made  its  acquaintance  since.  Artil 
lery  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  rendered  valuable  aid,  by 
playing  upon  the  enemy  in  his  advance  and  retreat.  Our  loss  this 
day  was  not  large  compared  with  that  on  the  31st  of  December. 
That  of  the  enemy  was  very  heavy. 

I  can  not  too  favorably  notice  the  coolness  and  promptitude 
shown  by  each  and  every  field  officer  of  the  brigade.  They  seemed 
to  vie  with  each  other  as  to  which  should  most  promptly  execute 
every  command,  without  regard  to  danger.  And  the  line  officers 
and  men  of  the  respective  regiments  appeared  neither  to  regard  or 
fear  any  exposure,  however  great.  New  and  old  regiments  alike 
acted  the  heroic  part,  and  braved  every  peril.  Captain  Weller,  in 
command  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  fell  at  his  post  on  the  last 
battle-field,  and  left  Captain  Cockerill  in  command,  who  bravely 
and  skillfully  discharged  his  whole  duty.  As  much  may  be  said 
of  Captain  Woodward,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  (upon  the  fall  of  Major  Kinley)  at  a  critical  and 
perilous  moment  in  the  first  day's  engagement. 


STONE   RIVER.  415 

[The  report  specially  compliments  Captain  Peeden,  Lieutenant 
Duke,  and  Dr.  Kersey,  of  the  brigade  staff,  makes  favorable  men 
tion  of  Colonel  Grose's  orderlies,  etc.,  and  proceeds]  : 

But  I  am  left  to  remember  and  lament  with  friends,  the  fall  in 
this  mighty  struggle  of  human  prowess,  such  brave  spirits  as  Colo 
nel  Jones,  Major  Terry,  Captain  Weller,  Captain  Shultz,  Captain 
King,  Adjutant  Williams,  Lieutenant  Foster,  Lieutenant  Ball, 
Lieutenant  Abercrombie,  and  others,  whose  earthly  conflicts  are 
now  ended  forever.  I  may  truthfully  add  that  I  mourn  with  those 
that  mourn  over  these  irreparable  losses  ;  and  to  the  brave  wounded, 
whose  fate  may  or  may  not  be  uncertain,  would  say — You  have  my 
earnest  prayer  for  a  speedy  restoration  to  health  and  usefulness. 

The  casualties  of  the  brigade,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,* 
are  as  follows: 

Officers  Officers    Men       Men        Men       Total, 
killed,    wound,  killed,  wound,  missing. 

Twenty-fourth  Ohio 4  4  10  68  12  98 

Twenty-third  Kentucky...  0  3  8  50  22  83 

Eighty-fourth  Illinois....  2  5  33  119  8  167 

Thirty-sixth  Indiana 2  6  23  85  18  134 

Sixth  Ohio.,  2  4  23  134  14  177 


Total 10         22         97       456         74        659 

Lists  of  which,  with  the  reports  of  the  regimental  commanders, 
are  respectfully  forwarded  herewith. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  etc., 

W.  GROSE, 

Colonel  Commanding  Third  Brigade  (old  Tenth). 

*  Subsequent  revision  reduced  the  casualty  lists  a  trifle — as  in  the 
Eighty-fourth  Illinois  to  155,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  to  163.  The  loss  of  the 
brigade  in  killed  and  wounded  was,  however,  considerably  above  the  av 
erage  of  the  rest  of  the  army. 


416  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 
MURFREEvSBORO'  AND  CRIPPLE  CREEK. 

(JANUARY  5-JUNE  23,  1863.) 

A  S  might  be  said  of  almost  every  regiment  in  the  Army  of 
-*-*-  the  Cumberland,  few  events  of  much  importance  befell 
the  Sixth  Ohio,  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  until  the  army 
moved  upon  Tullahoma,  a  period  of  nearly  six  months.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Christopher  rejoined  the  regiment  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  7th  of  January,  and  commanded  it  until  Colonel 
Anderson's  return,  late  in  March.  It  was  now  encamped  about 
three  miles  from  Murfreesboro',  near  the  McMinnville  turn 
pike.  The  regimental  train  also  arrived  on  the  7th,  and  that 
night  the  two  hundred  and  twenty  survivors  of  Stone  River 
once  more  slept  under  shelter  of  their  tents.  A  day  or  two 
afterward,  Hazen's  and  Cruft's  brigades  moved  to  Readyville 
and  Cripple  Creek,  respectively,  where  they  remained  until  the 
general  advance  in  June ;  and  late  on  the  9th,  Grose's  brigade 
changed  camp  two  miles  north-westward,  to  within  about 
two  miles  of  Murfreesboro',  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  being  sent 
on  picket,  passed  a  dark  and  dismal  night  in  the  rain.  On 
the  14th,  the  regiment  escorted  a  supply  train  to  Nashville, 
returning  on  the  18th,  after  a  two  days'  march  of  thirty-one 
miles.  A  heavy  rain  during  the  night  of  the  14th  and  all  the 
next  day,  had  made  camp  a  genuine  mud-hole,  and  for  several 


417 

weeks  after  this  date  the  weather  was  constantly  either  raw 
and  damp,  or  cold.  Late  on  the  23d,  the  Third  Brigade 
marched  ten  miles  to  Ready ville,  there  reenforcing  the  First 
and  Second  Brigades,  and  at  10  A.  M.,  the  next  day,  the 
division  reached  Woodbury,  where  it  routed  a  regiment  of 
rebel  cavalry,  (said  to  be  Morgan's  old  command,)  killing  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Hutchinson  and  half  a  dozen  of  his  men,  and 
capturing  a  number  of  prisoners.  It  was  generally  believed 
that  the  whole  force  might  have  been  taken,  if  Colonel  Wilder's 
brigade  had  succeeded  in  gaining  the  rear  of  the  town,  as  was 
contemplated,  before  the  attack  was  made  in  front.  The  bri 
gade  returned  to  Readyville  at  night,  after  marching  eighteen 
miles  in  all,  and  late  on  the  26th  moved  back  to  its  camp  near 
Murfreesboro',  in  the  midst  of  a  cold  rain  pouring  down  in 
torrents.  On  the  29th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  ordered  to  escort 
a  forage  train,  but  being  unable  to  find  it  after  diligent  search, 
it  returned  to  camp. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  the  designations  of  the  Center,  Right 
Wing,  and  Left  Wing,  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  were 
respectively  changed  to  the  Fourteenth,  Twentieth,  and  Twenr 
ty-first  Army  Corps.  On  the  3d,  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  were  detailed  as  escort  for  a  forage  train,  but 
were  turned  back  on  reaching  the  pickets,  not  being  accom 
panied  by  cavalry  and  a  section  of  artillery,  as  department 
orders  required.  The  weather  was  bitterly  cold.  Next  day 
the  same  train  and.  escort  went  eleven  miles  out  the  Las  Casas 
turnpike,  procured  a  fine  lot  of  forage,  lost  the  bugler  of  the 
Third  Tennessee  Cavalry  (who  went  ahead,  contrary  to  orders, 
and  was  captured  in  sight  of  the  advance  guard),  and  returned 
to  camp  at  11  P.  M.,  having  been  delayed  five  hours  in  cross 
ing  the  train  at  Stone  River,  and  there  being  overtaken  by  a 
driving  snow-storm.  On  the  7th,  the  brigade  changed  camp 
27 


418  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

to  a  higher  and  much  better  location,  somewhat  nearer  Mur- 
freesboro'.  About  this  time  heavy  details  were  being  made  for 
labor  upon  the  rifle-pits  and  the  immense  earth-works  with 
which  Rosecrans  was  fortifying  Murfreesboro'.  From  the  llth 
to  the  15th,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher,  by  department 
orders,  was  engaged  upon  an  important  court-martial.  On  the 
14th,  the  Sixth  Ohio,  under  command  of  Major  Russell,  had 
another  tiresome  march,  with  a  forage  train,  and  next  day 
Surgeon  Stephens  rejoined  the  regiment  from  his  long  absence 
on  hospital  duty  in  Nashville.  The  22d  of  February  was  ob 
served  by  the  reading  of  a  patriotic  order  from  department 
head-quarters,  and  noisy  national  salutes  by  the  batteries  at 
retreat.  On  the  24th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana 
went  out  seventeen  miles  with  another  forage  train,  and  re 
turned  the  same  night — "making  a  trip  of  thirty -four  miles," 
says  a  diary,  "which,  over  such  roads,  is  outrageous.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Carey,  who  commanded  the  expedition,  is  sadly 
lacking  in  judgment. "  Next  day,  the  companies  received  or 
ders  to  make  out  their  "Rolls  of  Honor,"  which  was  accord 
ingly  done.*  General  Rosecrans  had  previously  ordered  the 
name,  "  Stone  River,"  inscribed  on  the  national  colors  of  every 

*"  Rolls  of  Honor"  and  "Light  Battalions"  were  among  Rosecrans' 
projects  for  heightening  the  morale  and  soldierly  emulation  of  his  army. 
Regimental  Rolls  of  Honor  consisted  of  the  names  of  ten  sergeants,  ten 
corporals,  and  fifty  privates,  most  distinguished  for  bravery,  good  conduct, 
etc. ;  and  brigade  rolls  of  the  regimental  roll,  and  in  addition  thereto  the 
names  of  four  captains,  four  lieutenants,  and  two  field  officers  below  the 
rank  of  colonel.  Each  brigade  was  to  organize  a  Light  Battalion,  com 
posed  of  three  privates  from  each  company,  one  commissioned  officer,  two 
sergeants,  and  three  corporals  from  each  regiment,  and  one  field  officer 
from  the  brigade — who  were  promised  the  best  rifled  arms  (revolving,  if 
possible,)  and  exemption  from  picket  duty.  They  were  to  be  mounted  as 
soon  as  practicable,  to  be  encamped  at  brigade  head-quarters,  and  "  looked 


MURFKEESBORO7   AND   CRIPPLE   CREEK.  419 

regiment  engaged  in  that  battle,  and  was  successfully  exerting 
himself  to  improve  the  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the  army,  as 
well  as  increase  its  strength.  On  the  27th,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
was  paid  for  two  months  ending  October  31st,  1862,  and  next 

upon  as  the  elite  of  the  army  and  models  for  their  profession,"  etc.  Partly 
through  the  discouragement  of  the  War  Department,  and  partly,  perhaps, 
because  the  scheme  lacked  practicability,  the  Light  Battalions  were  never 
organized  in  most  of  the  brigades,  and  even  the  Roll  of  Honor  system  was 
soon  forgotten.  As  a  matter  of  possible  interest  to  some,  however,  the 
Sixth  Ohio's  Roll  of  Honor  is  appended,  as  below.  Those  names  to  which 
a  *  is  attached,  were  nominated  for  the  Light  Battalion,  as  were  also 
Captain  Donovan  and  Lieutenant  Cormany,  from  among  the  officers: 

COMPANY  A — Sergeant  Ed.  Edwards/  Corp.  John  A.  Gushing,*  and  pri 
vates  Frank  Brown,  E.  B.  O'Brien,*  Christopher  Roth,*  Theo.  Seib,*  and 
Charles  Messerschmidt. 

COMPANY  B — Sergeant  W.  J.  Thorp,*  Corporal  E.  Hannaford,*  an£  pri 
vates  Alonzo  Burgoyne,  Emil  Fritz,*  John  Harvey,*  John  Aufderheide,* 
and  William  Earner. 

COMPANY  C — Sergeant  John  Crotty,  Corporal  James  Jordan,  and  privates 
George  Santhoff,  David  Fitzgibbon,*  Francis  Kelley,*  Joseph  T.  Fox,* 
and  Henry  Hayne. 

COMPANY  D — Sergeant  William  Bowers,  Corporal  L.  H.  Jenks,  and  pri 
vates  H.  H.  Brockman,*  Hugo  Edler,  George  Kopp,*  George  F.  Mosher,* 
and  William  Dill. 

COMPANY  E — Sergeant  Jos.  A.  Turley,  Corporal  William  Leike,  and 
privates  N.  A.  Britt,*  John  Kincella,*  William  Schroder,*  George  W. 
Bowen,  and  Robert  Tuxworth. 

COMPANY  F — Sergeant  Otto  Bewer,  Corporal  J.  E.  Hewitt,  and  privates 
Fred.  Finer,*  Milton  Linebeck,*  William  Witte,  Peter  Lagaly,*  and  Win. 
Kessemeier. 

COMPANY  G — Sergeant  Henry  F.  Howe,  Corporal  William  A.  Clark, 
and  privates  William  Lotze,*  S.  P.  Stallcup,  G.  W.  J.  Miller,*  John  Hud- 
dleston,*  and  Anson  Schenck. 

COMPANY  H— Sergeant  Charles  Haller,  Corporal  Joseph  H.  Werhle,  and 
privates  John  A.  Bonner,*  Benjamin  Worrell,  John  Douglass,  George 
Whistler,*  and  Owen  Murphy.* 


420  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

day  four  of  the  officers,  who  had  been  commissioned  in  Novem 
ber,  tendered  their  resignations  (which  were  not  accepted),  on 
account  of  the  harsh  rulings  of  the  pay  department,  as  to  the 
time  when  their  pay  as  officers  began.  On  the  28th,  the  resig 
nation  of  Major  Russell  was  accepted,  and  three  days  later  he 
started  home,  and  is  now  the  head  of  a  large  job  printing  estab 
lishment  in  Cincinnati.  This  leads  us  to  speak  of  the  other 
changes  among  the  officers  up  to  the  above  date. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  several  new  commissions  arrived, 
whereupon  the  following  assignments  of  promoted  officers  were 
announced :  Captain  Montagnier  to  Company  B,  which,  since 
the  battle,  had  been  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Holmes;  First 
Lieutenant  Choate  (still  absent)  to  Company  G ;  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Graham — promoted  from  sergeant  major,  and  absent  by 
reason  of  wounds — to  Company  E ;  Second  Lieutenant  George 
T.  Lewis,  promoted  from  sergeant  in  Company  I,  to  Company 
A ;  and  First  Lieutenant  Throop,  promoted  from  first  sergeant 
of  Company  A,  appointed  adjutant.  On  the  19th  of  Febru 
ary,  the  following:  Captains  Dona  van  and  Thatcher  to  Com 
panies  K  and  F,  respectively,  (although  they  remained  until 
April  1st  in  command  of  Companies  E  and  K) ;  First  Lieu 
tenant  Schieffer  (absent  by  reason  of  wounds)  to  Company  E; 
First  Lieutenant  Irwin,  then  acting  quartermaster,  to  Com 
pany  F ;  First  Lieutenant  Kestner  to  Company  C,  (though  in 
command  for  several  weeks  afterward  of  Company  H;)  Second 
Lieutenants  Jesse  C.  La  Bille,  George  W.  Cormany,  and  Leon- 

COMPANY  I — Sergeant  W.  B.  Maclane,  Corporal  Richard  Garwood,*  and 
privates  James  Martin,*  John  Jackson,*'  D.  E.  McCarty,*  Newton  Buck- 
nell,  and  Max.  Essinger. 

COMPANY  K — Sergeant  W.  S.  Squires,  Corporal  J.  H.  Cohagen,  and  pri 
vates  Charles  Warner,*  Henry  Funk,*  Harry  Shelton,  Theo.  Ortman,  and 
Daniel  Henrie.* 


MURFREESBORO'  AND   CRIPPLE   CREEK.  421 

ard  Boice — promoted  from  first  sergeants  in  Companies  F,  B, 
and  E — to  Companies  F,  G,  and  C,  respectively;  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Josiah  W.  Slanker,  promoted  from  commissary 
sergeant,  to  Company  I ;  First  Sergeant  Fred.  H.  Mellen  and 
private  Julius  L.  Stuart,  both  of  Company  A,  were  respectively 
appointed  sergeant-major  and  commissary  sergeant.  On  the 
12th  of  January,  Captain  Erwin  was  appointed  Topographical 
Engineer  on  Colonel  Grose's  staff.  On  the  4th  of  February, 
Captain  Southgate  was  succeeded  as  acting  assistant  adjutant- 
general  by  Captain  George  M.  Graves,  of  the  Thirty-sixth  In 
diana,  and  took  command  of  Company  C,  thus  relieving  Lieu 
tenant  Gilman,  Avho  for  the  next  two  months  commanded 
Company  F. 

Everett  S.  Throop,  the  third  and  last  adjutant  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  was  born  on  the  5th  of  October,  1836,  in  Hamilton, 
New  York.  His  boyhood  was  passed  upon  his  father's  farm, 
but  in  September,  1857 — a  few  months  after  graduating  at 
Hamilton  Academy — he  removed  to  the  West.  Locating  in 
Cincinnati  in  February,  1858,  he  became  first  assistant  in  the 
Third  Intermediate  School,  which  position  he  retained  about 
two  years  and  a  half,  meanwhile  devoting  such  leisure  as  he 
could  command  to  the  study  of  the  law.  In  August,  1860,  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  Kebler  &  Force,  as  student,  and  grad 
uated  from  the  Cincinnati  Law  School  on  the  16th  of  April 
following.  The  President's  call  for  troops  had  then  just  been 
issued.  He  immediately  enlisted  in  Company  A,  of  the  Guth- 
rie  Greys,  marched  with  the  three-months'  Sixth  Ohio  to  Camp 
Harrison,  and,  promptly  reenlisting  for  three  years,  in  October 
(1861)  was  made  sergeant.  In  April,  1862,  he  was  appointed 
to  act  as  ordnance  sergeant  for  the  regiment,  in  which  capacity 
he  rendered  great  and  constant  assistance  to  Lieutenant  Horton, 
division  ordnance  officer,  and  in  October  was  appointed  first 


422  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

sergeant  of  Company  A.  His  promotion  to  adjutant  followed 
immediately  upon  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  his  commission 
bearing  date  December  31st,  1862.  Lieutenant  Throop  brought 
to  the  discharge  of 'his  new  duties  a  combination  of  intelligence, 
decision,  and  systematic  energy  which  made  him  in  every  re 
spect  a  most  excellent  and  valuable  officer. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  Colonel  Grose,  with  a  portion  of  his 
staff,  started  homeward  upon  leave  of  absence,  and  until  his 
return,  on  the  31st,  the  brigade  was  commanded  by  the  gen 
tlemanly  Colonel  Waters.  "  On  the  5th,"  says  an  officer, 
"  the  Sixth  Ohio,  as  usual,  stood  to  arms  before  daylight,  and, 
the  day  being  quiet  throughout,  we  were  visited  by  a  number 
of  officers  from  other  regiments.  The  sutler  received  a  supply 
of  beer,  which  was  first  rate,  and  helped  us  to  have  a  good 
time.  Nothing  like  beer,  my  boy,  to  make  a  soldier  content 
with  his  lot ! "  On  Sunday,  the  8th,  the  regiment  was  in 
spected  by  Captain  Norton,  division  inspector,  who  was  accom 
panied  by  General  Palmer  and  his  adjutant-general,  Captain 
Muhleman.  Next  day  it  received  orders  to  strike  tents,  pack 
up,  and  get  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  which  was 
done,  but  to  no  further  purpose  than  to  give  rise  to  a  hundred 
rumors,  the  tents  all  being  re-pitched  at  night.  On  the  llth, 
the  regiment  was  paid  by  Major  Diven,  for  the  two  months 
ending  December  31st,  1862.  .Drills  were  now  held  twice  a 
day,  whenever  the  weather  would  permit — that  in  the  afternoon 
usually  being  brigade  drill,  under  the  supervision  of  General 
Palmer.  On  the  18th  there  was  a  grand  review  of  Critten- 
den's  corps  by  General  Rosecrans,  whose  wife  and  several  other 
ladies  were  present,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  praised  on  all 
sides  for  its  excellent  marching  and  soldierly  appearance.  On 
the  21st  heavy  firing  was  heard  on  the  right,  and  also  on  the 


MURFREESBORO'  AND   CRIPPLE   CREEK.  423 

Las  Casas  turnpike,  but  nothing  came  of  it.  On  the  23d,  the 
brigade  changed  camp  about  one-half  mile  nearer  Murfreesboro', 
where  it  was  soon  more  comfortably  fixed  than  at  any  time  since 
leaving  Nashville.  The  Stone  River  wounded  and  captured 
were  now  returning  to  the  front  every  day,  and  the  army  was  in 
good  condition  and  spirits.  On  the  27th,  the  brigade  marched 
to  Cripple  Creek,  to  support  Hazen,  at  Readyville,  who  had 
discovered  a  considerable  body  of  rebels  in  his  immediate  front, 
but  the  enemy  having  withdrawn,  after  simply  testing  the  lines, 
on  the  29th  it  returned  to  Murfreesboro'.  While  upon  this 
expedition,  the  Sixth  Ohio  had  its  first  experience  with  shelter- 
tents,  issued  for  the  occasion.  Describing  the  night  of  the  27th, 
a  Sixth  Ohio  letter  says :  "  I  slept  soundly  till  my  partner 
awoke  me.  Rain  was  pouring  down  in  torrents,  and  although 
our  shelter-tent  kept  us  dry  enough  overhead,  the  water  was 
rushing  under  us  in  a  perfect  flood.  It  was  impossible  to  see 
each  other  for  the  intense  darkness,  but  no  time  was  to  be  lost 
in  debating  what  to  do.  We  rolled  up  our  wet  and -dripping 
blankets  for  seats,  and,  with  guns  and  cartridge-boxes  across 
our  knees,  leaned  our  heads  on  our  hands,  and  our  shoulder 
against  each  other  for  mutual  support,  and  in  this  position 
slept  till  sunrise.  We  felt  a  little  the  worse  for  wear,  of  course, 
but  after  taking  a  good  stretch,  a  wash  at  the  creek,  and  a 
quart  of  hot  coffee,  we  were  all  right  for  another  day's  duty." 
Colonel  Anderson,  nearly  recovered  from  his  wound,  was 
found  in  camp  when  the  regiment  returned,  and  was  welcomed 
by  all.  He  immediately  resumed  command.  At  1  A.  M.,  on 
the  2d  of  April,  Grose's  brigade  marched  for  Readyville,  there 
relieving  Hazen's — which  made  a  successful  reconnoissance  to 
Woodbury — and  at  night  returned  to  Murfreesboro',  after  a 
day's  march  of  twenty-four  miles.  Next  day  it  returned  to 
Readyville,  twelve  miles.  At  4  A.  M.,  on  the  4th,  it  went 


424  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

on  to  Woodbury,  whence  the  rebels  were  again  driven,  and  in 
the  evening  the  Sixth  Ohio  moved  back  four  miles  to  a  point 
where  five  companies  had  been  left  to  guard  two  bridges,  mak 
ing  eleven  miles'  marching  in  all.  On  the  5th,  the  regiment 
repeated  its  trip  to  Woodbury,  returning  at  dark  to  its  camp 
ing-place  of  the  night  before.  On  the  7th,  the  Third  Brigade 
was  ordered  to  Bradyville,  and,  on  its  return,  the  rear-guard 
was  fired  into  by  guerrillas,  but  received  no  injury.  This  day 
the  Sixth  Ohio  marched  twelve  miles.  On  the  8th,  the  brigade 
returned  to  Murfreesboro',  fourteen  miles,  finding  the  "Ander 
son  Troop,"  (the  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,)  previously 
supposed  to  have  been  captured,  safe  and  sound  at  Readyville. 
The  result  of  these  operations  was  the  capture  of  about  sixty 
prisoners,  one  hundred  horses  and  mules,  a  large  quantity  of 
hay  and  corn,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  cigars  and  tobacco, 
of  which  the  last-named  articles  were  liberally  distributed 
among  the  denarcotized  troops.  A  field  officer,  in  a  private 
letter,  sums  up  other  results  as  follows :  "  We  had  a  few  skir 
mishes,  burnt  a  few  houses,  walked  many  miles,  and  learned 
nothing.  I  am  convinced,  firstly,  that  the  rebs  have  no  idea 
of  attacking  us  at  present,  and,  secondly,  that  we  have  no  idea 
of  attacking  them.  Murfreesboro'  is  a  perfect  Gibraltar, 
trenched,  ditched,  and  fortified  on  all  sides.  We  can  hold  it 
against  the  Southern  Confederacy." 

On  the  9th  of  April,  Colonel  Anderson  applied  to  depart 
ment  head-quarters  to  have  the  detailed  men  from  the  Sixth 
Ohio  returned  thereto,  stating  that  he  then  had  written  details 
for  one  hundred  and  thirteen  men,  scattered  all  over  the  coun 
try,  and  had  lost  only  seven  men  by  disease  during  a  service 
of  nearly  two  years.  Action  was  at  once  taken  in  accordance 
with  this  request,  but  within  a  few  weeks  nearly  all  these  men, 
or  as  many  others,  were  again  on  detailed  service;  for  when- 


425 

ever  brains  and  clerkly  capacity  were  in  demand,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  was  commonly  the  first  source  to  which  quartermasters, 
commissaries,  etc.,  looked  for  a  supply.  The  9th  of  April  is 
also  the  date  of  Gordon  Granger's  repulse  of  Van  Dorn,  at 
Franklin.  On  the  10th,  a  special  muster  was  held  in  each 
regiment,  in  accordance  with  the  President's  order  supple 
mentary  to  the  proclamation  regarding  the  return  of  deserters 
prior  to  April  1st;  and  the  same  day  rebel  cavalry  captured 
a  train  near  Lavergne,  with  $40,000  of  soldiers'  money,  much 
of  which  \vas  from  Palmer's  division.  On  the  12th,  the 
Sixth  Ohio  was  paid  for  the  two  months  ending  February 
28th.  About  this  time  the  troops  were  in  a  state  of  anxious 
expectancy  in  regard  to  a  promised  "system  of  furloughs  in 
limited  number,"  which,  however,  was  never  perfected ;  and 
the  camp  of  the  Third  Brigade  was  fitted  up  with  especial 
care  and  pride.  Says  a  field  officer  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  writ 
ing  home:  "My  camp  is  in  splendid  condition.  Cedars  have 
been  planted  around  the  grounds,  in  front  of  the  field  and 
line  officers'  tents,  and  along  each  side  of  the  company  streets. 
From  the  center  of  the  parade  grounds  floats  'Old  Glory/ 
streaming  out  from  a  tall  flag-staff  as  proudly  and  defiantly 
as  ever.  Around  the  base  of  the  pole,  sod  has  been  planted, 
and  a  little  circular  grass  plat  gives  a  verdant  air  to  the  whole 
place.  The  whole  camp  is  trenched,  and  the  tents  are  clean 
and  well  aired.  In  short,  I  am  quite  ready  to  receive  a  visit 
from  our  sanitary  friends  or  any  of  the  medical  department.  .  . 
.  .  .  The  order  for  the  consolidation  of  regiments  has  been 
withdrawn  in  this  army,  and,  at  any  rate,  its  enforcement  would 
not  have  affected  us. 

'  O  God,  that  bread  should  be  so  dear, 
And  life  and  blood  so  cheap ! ' 

Life   and   blood,   one   hundred   and   fifty    pounds,  at   §13   a 


426  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

month;  eggs,  75  cents  per  dozen;  butter,  $1  50  per  pound; 
bread,  40  cents  a  loaf,  etc.  Wonder  how  prices  compare  in 
Richmond?" 

On  the  21st,  General  Reynolds,  with  his  own  division, 
Wilder's  brigade  of  mounted  infantry,  and  a  detachment  of 
cavalry,  made  a  highly  successful  raid  on  McMinnville  and 
the  railroad  between  that  point  and  Manchester.  On  the  23d, 
Captain  Bense's  whole  company,  save  one  sergeant,  two  cor 
porals,  and  eighteen  privates,  were  relieved  from  service  as 
provost  guards  for  the  brigade,  and  returned  to  duty  with  the 
regiment.  On  the  28th,  Colonel  Anderson  was  detailed  upon 
a  department  court-martial  in  Murfreesboro',  and  for  the  next 
seven  weeks  the  regiment  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Christopher.  On  the  29th,  shelter-tents  were  issued  the 
regiment ;  "  and  it  was  very  funny  on  the  first  night  of  their 
adoption/'  says  a  Sixth  Ohio  letter,  "  to  hear  the  men  bark 
ing,  yowling,  snarling,  and  yelping  in  their  '  dog- tents.'  Woe 
to  the  unfortunate  loiterer  who,  after  taps,  seeks  his  quarters ! 
From  every  tent  he  is  greeted  by  a  snarl  and  a  vigorous 
pinch,  and  is  glad  to  reach  his  '  kennel '  with  an  unbruised 
leg."  On  the  30th,  which  had  been  set  apart  as  a  day  of 
national  fasting  and  prayer,  a  brigade  inspection  was  substi 
tuted  for  the  usual  drills,  but  in  spite  of  Rosecrans'  order 
reeuforcing  the  President's  proclamation,  very  little  fasting  was 
done.  The  men  had  plenty  of  money,  as  the  sutler  had  of 
goods,  and  were  now  "  living  on  the  top  shelf." 

On  the  5th  of  May,  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky  moved  to 
Readyville,  for  temporary  attachment  to  Hazen's  brigade.  At 
this  time  tidings  of  the  Chancellorsville  campaign  were  coming 
daily,  exciting,  first,  general  rejoicing,  then  anxiety,  and  lastly, 
intense  disgust.  Simultaneously  intelligence  was  received  of 
the  capture  of  Colonel  Streight's  expedition,  in  which  was  the 


MURFREESBORO'  AND   CRIPPLE   CREEK.  427 

Third  Ohio,  old  friends  of  the  Sixth.  At  midnight  between 
the  llth  and  12th,  Grose's  brigade  marched  for  Cripple  Creek, 
eight  miles  distant,  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  four  companies  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Illinois  bringing  up  the  rear  as  es 
cort  for  the  division  ammunition  train.  "  Can't  see  the  object 
of  moving  us  at  midnight,"  says  an  officer's  diary,  "  but  learn 
it  was  caused  by  the  reports  of  some  members  of  General 

E ?s  staff,  who  had  been  out  here  and  got  their  necks  full 

of  whisky.  It  is  astonishing  what  a  small  amount  of  brains 
it  requires  to  be  a  staff  officer."  On  the  13th,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
established  itself  in  camp,  (which  Colonel  Grose  had  selected 
for  it  in  an  open  field,  without  any  shelter  from  the  sun, 
greatly  to  the  men's  indignation,)  and  for  the  next  few  days 
was  busily  engaged  in  fitting  up  its  new  quarters.  "  At  Crip 
ple  Creek,"  says  one  account,  "  we  remained  very  quiet,  with 
the  same  routine  of  duties  day  after  day,  namely,  up  at  3  A. 
M.,  stand  in  line  of  battle  till  near  sunrise,  nominally  go 
through  a  squad  drill,  about  10  A.  M.,  and  in  the  afternoon 
out  on  brigade  or  division  drill,  which  was  more  strict.  How 
much  we  wanted  rain  about  this  time !  We  were  contin 
ually  watching  the  clouds,  and  praying,  in  a  soldier's  way, 
for  a  shower."  During  its  stay  at  Cripple  Creek,  the  Third 
Brigade — sometimes  alone,  and  sometimes  in  connection  with 
the  First  (CrufVs)  Brigade — was  several  times  reviewed,  and 
the  Sixth  Ohio  was  more  than  once  highly  complimented  by 
General  Palmer  and  other  officers. 

On  Sunday  evening,  June  14th,  a  tremendous  rain-storm 
swept  over  the  camp,  accompanied  by  a  high  wind.  aThe 
storm  flattened  out  every  thing,"  says  a  letter,  "  and  made  our 
beautiful  camp  a  scene  of  perfect  desolation.  Our  shades, 
composed  of  rails  and  cedar-boughs,  were  blown  •  over,  and 
generally  fell  on  the  tents  with  crushing  weight,  compelling 


428  THE   STOEY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

the  boys  to  crawl  out  as  best  they  could,  and  seek  safety, 
though  in  the  rain.  It  was  amusing  to  see  in  what  a  variety 
of  ways  this  visitation  was  taken.  Some  of  the  victims  ap 
peared  to  consider  it  a  very  good  joke,  while  the  countenances 
of  others  were  as  woe-begone  as  if  they  had  lost  their  all. 
However,  all  hands  turned  in  next  morning  to  clear  away 
the  ruins  and  build  anew,  which  they  did  more  durably  and 
with  even  greater  taste  than  before."  Colonel  Anderson  re 
sumed  command  of  the  regiment  on  the  16th.  The  weather 
was  now  very  hot,  and  at  this  date  a  member  of  the  Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois  was  sun-struck,  while  on  brigade  drill.  On 
the  19th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  on  duty  as  the  inlying  picket. 
On  the  21st  (Sunday),  there  was  another  grand  review,  "in 
which  every  filing  was  in  good  condition  and  would  have 
passed  off  finely/'  says  a  Sixth  Ohio  corporal,  "  if  the  brigade 
band  had  not  spoiled  it  all  by  playing  a  perfect  jumble  of 
every  imaginable  time,  from  a  dead  march  to  a  double-quick. 
To  hear  the  various  remarks  which  their  performances  elicited, 
was  decidedly  rich.  One  very  pious  wish  I  heard  expressed 
was  that  they  might  blow  at  their  horns  hard  enough  to  blow 
themselves  away,  horns  and  all.  All  hands  finally  had  to 
'gang  their  ain  gait/  and  leave  the  band  to  theirs."  Next 
day  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky  rejoined  the  brigade  from 
Readyville,  and  on  the  23d,  John  Shockman,  a  private  of 
the  First  Kentucky,  was  "shot  to  death  with  musketry,"  in 
presence  of  the  whole  division  under  arms,  for  the  crime  of 
desertion.  Marching  orders,  concerning  which  there  had  been 
many  fitful  rumors  for  weeks  past,  were  received  that  evening — 
one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  and  twelve  days'  rations. 

Captain-  Westcott,  who  had  resumed  command  of  his  com 
pany  early  in  January,  resigned  March  9th,  and  came  home. 


429 

On  the  31st  of  March,  Captain  Erwin  rejoined  the  regiment 
from  duty  on  the  brigade  staff,  and  Lieutenant  Oilman  returned 
to  Company  A  (which  for  three  weeks  had  been  in  charge  of 
Lieutenant  Lewis),  each  taking  command  of  his  own  company. 
Lieutenant  Graham  returned  from  absence  by  reason  of  wounds 
on  the  27th  of  March,  and  Captain  Tinker  on  the  3d  of  April. 
Since  the  battle,  Company  H  had  been  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenants  Meline  and  Kestner,  the  latter  of  whom  now  re 
turned  to  his  own  company.  Lieutenant  Choate,  having  re 
joined  the  regiment  at  the  same  date,  assumed  command  of 
Company  G,  which  for  several  weeks  previous  had  been  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  Cormany.  Lieutenant  Shoemaker 
was  relieved  from  duty  as  Division  Master  of  Transportation 
on  the  10th  of  April,  and  returned  to  the  regiment.  Lieuten 
ant  Irwin,  thus  relieved  of  the  care  of  the  quartermaster's  de 
partment,  took  his  place  in  Company  F.  On  the  17th  of  April 
assignments  of  promoted  officers  were  announced  as  follows : 
Major  Erwin,  promoted  from  Captain  of  Company  E ;  Cap 
tains  Sheridan  (detached)  and  Gilman,  to  Companies  E  and  A, 
respectively ;  First  Lieutenant  Antram,  to  Company  H ;  First 
Lieutenant  Holmes,  and  Second  Lieutenant  "W.  R.  Glisan,  pro 
moted  from  first  sergeant,  remained  with  their  old  compa 
nies — B  and  D,  respectively.  On  the  2d  of  May,  Lieutenant 
SI  anker  was  transferred  from  Company  I  to  Company  K,  and 
Lieutenant  Lewis,  from  Company  A  to  I.  At  the  same  date, 
Second  Lieutenant  W.  R.  Goodnough,  promoted  from  quarter 
master-sergeant,  was  assigned  to  Company  A.  He  was  the  last 
second  lieutenant  ever  mustered  in  the  Sixth  Ohio,  its  com 
panies  now  being  below  the  minimum  strength  authorized  by 
law,  and,  under  regulations  soon  afterward  adopted  by  the 
War  Department,  not  entitled  to  officers  of  that  grade.  Pri 
vate  Edwin  A.  Hannaford,  of  Company  B,  was  appointed  to 


430  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

the  vacant  quartermaster- sergeantship.  Captain  Getty  resigned 
a  few  weeks  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  but  was  recom- 
missioned,  upon  Colonel  Anderson's  urgent  recommendation, 
and  on  the  28th  of  May  again  assumed  command  of  Company 
G.  On  the  22d  of  June,  Lieutenant  Choate  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  Company  E,  replacing  Lieutenant  Graham, 
whom  the  War  Department,  by  some  misunderstanding,  had 
just  dismissed  the  service  for  absence  without  authority.  He 
was  soon  reinstated,  as  we  shall  see.  Dr.  Ames  (still  absent) 
resigned  on  the  1 2th  of  June,  and  was  succeeded  by  Assistant 
Surgeon  W.  W.  Fountain,  a  native  of  Rochester,  New  York, 
but  for  several  years  a  resident  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
had  lately  graduated  from  the  Starling  Medical  College.  Dr. 
Ames  was  soon  afterward  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  Four 
teenth  LTnited  States  Colored  Infantry,  which  position  he  re 
tained  until  the  muster-out  of  that  command  in  March,  1866. 
He  then  located  at  Chattanooga,  but  in  the  summer  of  1867 
returned  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  active 
practice  of  his  profession. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  Lieutenant  Boice  was  detailed  upon 
the  brigade  staff  as  aid-de-camp;  and  during  April  and  May, 
Captains  Russell  and  Montagnier,  and  Lieutenants  Holmes  and 
La  Bille,  were  detailed  upon  different  courts-martial  and  mili 
tary  commissions — each  for  a  duty  of  several  weeks'  duration. 
Leaves  of  absence  were  granted,  during  March  and  April,  to 
Surgeon  Stephens,  Captains  Montagnier,  Southgate,  Thatcher, 
and  Russell,  and  Lieutenant  Antram — to  the  first-named  for 
fifteen,  and  the  rest  for  ten  days ;  and  in  May,  to  Captain  Gil- 
man,  for  fifteen  days. 

Thus,  when  the  army  moved  southward  to  seize  upon  the 
rock-walled  fortress  of  Chattanooga,  the  officers  upon  duty 


431 

with  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  as  follows.  They  were  in  command 
of  about  three  hundred  and  forty  effective  men : 

Field  and  Staff — Colonel  Anderson,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Christopher,  Major  Erwin,  Surgeon  Stephens,  Adjutant  Throop, 
Quartermaster  Shoemaker,  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Fountain. 

Company  A — Captain  Oilman  and  Lieutenant  Goodnough. 

Company  B — Captain  Montagnier  and  First  Lieutenant 
Holmes.  (The  latter  had  commanded  the  company  for  several 
weeks  immediately  preceding.) 

Company  C — Captain  Southgate  and  First  Lieutenant 
Kestner. 

Company  D — Captain  Russell  and  Second  Lieutenant  Glisan. 

Company  E — First  Lieutenant  Choate  (temporarily  detached 
from  Company  G)  commanding  company. 

Company  F — Captain  Thatcher,  First  Lieutenant  Irwin,  and 
Second  Lieutenant  La  Bille. 

Company  G — Captain  Getty  and  Second  Lieutenant  Cor- 
many. 

Company  H — Captain  Tinker,  First  Lieutenant  Antram, 
and  Second  Lieutenant  Meline. 

Company  I — Second  Lieutenant  Lewis,  commanding  com 
pany  (Captain  Bense  still  retaining  the  appointment  of  provost 
marshal  for  the  brigade). 

Company  K — Captain  Donovan,  and  Second  Lieutenant 
Blanker. 


432  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 
FROM   CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAGUA. 

(JUNE  24— SEPTEMBER  11,  1863.) 

MURFREESBORO'  was  securely  fortified,  and  stored 
with  supplies  in  abundance,  by  the  time  the  roads  be 
came  fairly  settled  in  the  spring ;  while  the  army  was  not  only 
stronger  in  numbers  than  when  it  fought  the  victorious  battle 
of  Stone  River,  but  was  in  a  higher  state  of  discipline  and 
efficiency  than  ever  before.  The  great  and  pressing  want  of 
an  adequate  cavalry  force,  however,  and  the.  necessity  of  keep 
ing  Bragg  on  the  qui  vive,  to  prevent  him  from  detaching 
troops  for  the  relief  of  beleaguered  Vicksburg — an  object  which 
Rosecrans  and  his  generals  imagined  could  best  be  attained  by 
allowing  him  to  remain  in  Middle  Tennessee — delayed  an  ad 
vance  for  many  weeks;  in  fact,  for  a  considerable  time  after  the 
country  had  begun  to  expect  it,  and  the  Government  had  vir 
tually  demanded  it.  At  last,  on  the  23d  of  June,  (twelve  days 
after  holding  a  council  of  war,  at  which  every  corps  and  divis 
ion  commander  in  the  army  had  expressed  a  more  or  less  de 
cided  opposition  to  any  effort  to  advance),  Rosecrans  gave  the 
orders  for  a  forward  movement  at  daylight  next  morning. 
Bragg's  infantry  forces  were  mainly  assembled  behind  strong 
and  elaborate  fortifications  at  Shelbyville,  Wartrace,  and  Tul- 
lahoma,  his  front  being  covered  by  a  range  of  high,  rocky 


FROM  CRIPPLE  CREEK  TO  THE  CHICKAMAUGA.    433 

hills,  cleft  by  various  gaps,  of  which  the  rebels  held  undisputed 
possession.  Rosecrans'  plan  was  to  deceive  his  antagonist  by 
making  a  strong  feint  on  Shelby  ville,  with  his  right,  while  the 
main  body  of  his  army  should  concentrate  rapidly  at  Manches 
ter  (close  upon  the  enemy's  right  flank,)  move  to  the  rear  of 
Tullahoma,  and  force  Bragg  to  a  disastrous  battle,  or  else 
an  almost  equally  disastrous  retreat  by  unfavorable  routes 
over  the  mountains  toward  Chattanooga.  Accordingly,  while 
Granger,  with  the  Reserve  Corps,  demonstrated  heavily  to 
ward  Shelbyville,  Thomas  moved  by  the  direct  road  through 
Hoover's  Gap  and  Beech  Grove  to  Manchester,  with  McCook 
within  supporting  distance  on  the  right,  moving  through  Lib 
erty  Gap  and  Fail-field,  and  Crittenden  on  the  left,  taking  an 
obscure  and  circuitous  route  through  Bradyville.  Of  Critten- 
den's  corps,  Palmer's  and  Wood's  divisions  alone  took  part  in 
this  movement — Van  Cleve's  being  temporarily  left  at  Mur- 
freesboro'. 

June  24th,  Wednesday. — The  Second  Division  marched  at 
7  A.  M.,  moving  nearly  due  South  from  Cripple  Creek  to  strike 
the  Murfreesboro'  and  Bradyville  turnpike,  out  which  it  pro 
ceeded  several  miles  further,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  about 
a  mile  beyond  Bradyville,  or  fourteen  miles  from  Cripple  Creek. 
The  cavalry  advance  guard  had  a  skirmish  with  the  Third 
Georgia  Cavalry,  near  Bradyville,  and  lost  one  man  killed  and 
another  wounded.  A  heavy  rain  set  in  early  in  the  forenoon, 
continuing  all  day  and  all  that  night. 

June  25th. — "Rain  continued  falling  in  torrents,"  says «  a 
diary,  "  and  the  roads  were  awful.  Nevertheless,  we  trudged 
on,  with  heavy  firing  on  our  right,  and  some  skirmishing  on 
our  own  front — not  enough,  however,  to  delay  us — and  about 
noon  reached  a  long,  steep  hill.  This  we  climbed,  and  early 
28 


434  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

went  into  camp  near  Fountain  Springs,  having  marched  eight 
miles.  A  heavy  detail  was  made  from  the  brigade  and  sent 
back,  under  Major  Erwin,  to  assist  in  getting  the  train  forward. 
The  wagons  had  to  be  dragged  up  by  the  men,  fifty  of  them 
pulling  and  pushing  at  the  same  wagon,  and  thus  moving  it 
slowly  but  surely  along.  The  mules,  at  such  times,  were  taken 
out  altogether.  Company  H's  wagon  broke  a  wheel  and  was 
left  behind." 

June  26th. — Still  it  rained.  The  division  remained  in  camp 
all  day,  heard  more  firing  upon  the  right,  and  sent  back  heavy 
additional  details  for  the  train,  which  finally  arrived  after  dark. 

June  27th. — More  rain.  Starting  at  2  P.  M.,  the  division 
marched  eleven  miles,  or  to  within  three  miles  of  Manchester, 
which,  it  was  found,  had  been  occupied  during  the  forenoon 
by  Reynolds'  division  of  Thomas7  corps.  "  Our  company," 
says  a  Sixth  Ohio  corporal,  "was  detailed  as  wagon-guard 
(which,  at  that  time,  meant  a  party  to  see  that  the  wagons  were 
brought  forward  in  some  way  or  other)  and,  while  daylight  re 
mained,  succeeded  pretty  well,  though  at  the  cost  of  many  a  deep 
wade  in  mud  of  all  consistencies.  In  places  where  the  road 
was  unusually  soft  and  boggy,  we  would  stack  arms,  then  chop 
down  small  trees  and  '  corduroy/  or,  if  fences  were  at  hand,  we 
would  make  for  them,  and  build  a  veritable  rail  road.  We 
were  still  several  miles  behind  the  division  when  night  settled 
down,  very  dark  and  rainy.  How  we  ever  kept  the  road  at 
all  after  that  is  more  than  I  can  tell.  We  worked  along  all 
night,  though  very  slowly,  and  finally  got  into  camp  at  10  A. 
M.,  next  day." 

June  28th,  Sunday. — More  rain.  In  the  afternoon,  the 
division  changed  camp  two  miles  nearer  Manchester,  and  next 
day  two  miles  further,  passing  through  that  place  in  the  midst 
of  a  drenching  rain.  Says  a  member  of  the  Sixth  Ohio :  "  One 


FROM   CRIPPLE   CREEK    TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        435 

experience  connected  with  our  weary,  weary  trip  from  Cripple 
Creek,  is  indelibly  impressed  on  my  memory.  My  mess-mate 
(dear,  lamented  Ed  Rowe)  and  I  had  secured  the  services  of  a 
diminutive  contraband,  about  ten  years  old,  who  was  to  black 
our  shoes  and  make  himself  generally  useful,  in  consideration 
whereof  we  obligated  ourselves  to  keep  him  supplied  with  ra 
tions.  On  the  first  day  out,  we  gave  him  a  haversack  to  carry, 
containing  all  our  earthly  store  of  hard-tack.  What  was  our 
amazement,  at  a  short  halt,  to  see  him  coolly  set  it  down  in  a 
mud-puddle,  and  seat  himself  upon  it !  When  we  remonstrated, 
his  innocent  reply  was,  'Massa  Ed  Rowe,  I  didn't  know 
't  would  hurt  'em  ! '  At  another  time,  when  we  were  on  half- 
rations,  and  had  received  eight  large  crackers  as  our  joint  share 
of  hard-tack  for  two  days,  Ed  and  I,  in  order  to  make  the 
supply  hold  out,  if  possible,  made  a  scanty  supper  and  when 
Bob  came  round  for  his,  told  him  to  help  himself,  but,  as  he 
regarded  his  inner  boy,  to  be  sure  and  touch  it  lightly.  Next 
morning,  on  going  to  the  haversack,  \ve  found  only  two  crackers 
left — for  five  meals!  Bob  was  interrogated  forthwith.  'I'se 
hungry  all  night  myse'f,'  was  the  doleful  reply;  '  did  n't  git 
nuffin  only  fo'  crackers  for  supper!'  We  dispensed  with  his 
services  after  that." 

June  30th. — More  rain.  The  division  stored  its  baggage  at 
Manchester,  preparatory  to  an  advance  in  the  lightest  possible 
marching  order  to  the  rear  of  Bragg's  army,  the  whole  of  which 
had  now  fallen  back  to  Tullahoma.  The  troops  were  on  short 
rations,  which  soon  grew  scantier  still.  The  division  supply- 
train,  now  largely  increased  by  the  baggage  wagons  just  emp 
tied,  was  placed  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant  Peck,  whose 
exceeding  energy  had  made  him  famous  throughout  the  corps. 
At  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  where  thousands  of  troops  suffered 
greatly  for  supplies,  he  not  only  kept  his  own  division  well  pro- 


436  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

vided,  but  was  enabled  to  issue  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
rations  to  other  commands. 

July  1st. — Marched  with  three  days'  rations,  but  no  bag 
gage,  taking  the  old  road  to  Pelhara  through  Hillsboro'.  The 
weather  was  very  hot,  and  the  roads  worse  than  ever.  The 
division  got  mired  in  a  swamp,  and,  after  floundering  about  in 
it  for  some  time,  went  into  camp  five  miles  from  Manchester, 
about  the  time  that  rain  began  falling  again.  In  the  evening, 
the  welcome  news  was  received  of  the  evacuation  of  Tullahoma, 
whither  General  Rosecrans  was  already  removing  his  head 
quarters. 

July  2d. — Very  hot,  with  more  rain  at  night.  A  heavy  detail 
was  made  to  carry  the  ammunition  through  the  swamp;  which 
done,  the  empty  wagons  were  finally  dragged  through.  The 
division  marched  at  noon,  with  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  rear  of  the 
ammunition  train,  and  bivouacked  at  the  end  of  eight  or  nine 
miles. 

July  3d. — Rain  in  torrents.  After  marching  four  miles,  the 
division  .reached  Elk  River,  at  Morris7  Ford,  on  the  road  be 
tween  Hillsboro'  and  Decherd,  found  it  swollen  almost  out  of 
its  banks  and  quite  impassable,  and  thereupon  marched  back 
two  miles  to  camp  on  Indian  Creek,  where  it  remained  during 
five  days  of  much  rain,  more  mud,  and  less  rations.  The  soil 
in  this  vicinity  is  peculiarly  spongy,  if  it  may  so  be  character 
ized,  and  miniature  springs  were  continually  oozing  forth  under 
the  tents  and  elsewhere  all  over  camp.  At  this  time  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  shared  with  the  whole  country  in  jubilations 
over  Lee's  defeat  at  Gettysburg,  and  Grant's  glorious  successes  at 
Vicksburg.  "  We  were  lying  quietly  in  camp  at  Indian  Creek," 
says  the  letter  of  a  Sixth  Ohio  officer,  "  when  a  distant  report 
(was  it  thunder  or  a  cannon?)  fell  dull  upon  our  ears.  An 
other  and  another,  in  quick  succession,  yet  with  clock-like  reg- 


FROM   CEIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        437 

ularity.  They  are  firing  a  salute  at  Tullahoma,  seven  miles 
away.  An  hour  elapses,  and  we  are  all  eager  with  curiosity ; 
for,  in  the  meantime,  Thomas,  at  Decherd,  and  Van  Cleve,  at 
Manchester,  have  heard  the  glorious  news,  and  thundered  forth 
with  thirty-five  guns  apiece.  Why  do  not  we  learn  something? 
General  Crittenden  paces  up  and  down  before  his  tent,  nervous 
and  angry;  on  every  side  the  armies  have  greeted  some  wel 
come  intelligence,  but  we  are  still  in  doubt.  Suddenly,  the 
earth  trembles,  the  smoke  curls  upward,  and  in  sharp,  distinct 
roar,  Russell's  Battery  crashes  upon  the  air.  The  men  are  wild 
with  anticipated  joy,  and  a  long,  loud  shout  rings  out  an  echo 
to  the  cannon, '  Vicksburg  fallen  and  Lee  overthrown ! '  You: Jve 
heard  the  news,  you  've  felt  the  joy  ! " 

By  a  hot,  hard  march  of  fifteen  miles  through  Hillsboro',  the 
division,  on  the  8th,  returned  to  Manchester,  where  its  arrival 
was  signalized  by  another  hard  rain.  It  spent  the  next  five 
and  a  half  weeks  lying  quietly  in  camp  near  this  place,  Wood's 
division  being  posted  at  Hillsboro',  Van  Cleve's  at  McMinn- 
ville,  and  the  remainder  of  the  army  along  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  Railroad — principally  at  Tullahoma  and  Decherd. 
Sheridan's  division  was  pushed  forward  to  Stevenson  and 
Bridgeport,  as  soon  as  the  railroad  could  be  re-opened  to  those 
points,  which  was  accomplished  on  the  25th  of  July.  Rose- 
crans'  brilliant  success  (effected  by  a  series  of  flanking  op 
erations  that  compare  favorably  with  the  most  celebrated 
campaigns  of  modern  warfare)  inspired  his  troops  with  an  ex 
uberant  confidence,  amounting  almost  to  a  conviction  of  abso 
lute  invincibility.  This  feeling  was  worth  every  thing  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  a  later  day,  making  Bragg's 
bloody  victory  at  Chickamauga  a  barren  one  at  last.  In  the 
rebel  army,  meanwhile,  there  seemed  to  be  a  growing  dissat 
isfaction  and  consciousness  of  weakness,  such,  in  fact,  as  in- 


438  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

duced  many  hundreds  of  Tennesseeans  to  desert  and  return  to 
their  former  homes.  The  mistake  was  not  unnatural,  there 
fore,  when  Rosecrans'  men  pronounced  the  war  in  Tennessee 
"  about  played  out,"  *  as  they  did  by  common  consent. 

But  to  resume  the  thread  of  our  chronology.  Colonel 
Grose's  pass  regulations  were  very  strict  at  Manchester,  and 
generated  some  ill  feeling  for  the  time  being.  The  brigade 
accorded  him  full  praise  for  courage  in  battle,  and  pleasant 
manners  on  the  march,  but  now  regarded  him  as  unnecessarily 
exacting.  About  the  middle  of  July,  the  army  received  intel 
ligence  of  the  fall  of  Port  Hudson  and  Morgan's  last  great 
raid  beyond  the  Ohio.  "  It  is  singular/'  says  an  officer's 
diary,  "  that  the  authorities  at  home  have  not  been  able  to 
check  him.  I  hope  he  will  show  them  what  war  means." 
Ten  days  later :  "  We  have  news  at  last  of  Morgan's  capture, 
with  nearly  all  his  band  of  horse-thieves ;  there  is  much  re 
joicing  in  consequence."  On  the  16th,  the  Second  Division 
began  cutting  fifteen  thousand  railroad  ties  to  replace  those 
which  the  rebels  had  removed  from  the  McMinnville  road  for 

• 

use  elsewhere.  The  quota  assigned  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  one 
thousand,  which,  from  the  scarcity  of  axes,  required  several 
days  to  turn  out.  On  the  18th,  the  regiment  was  paid  by 
Major  Diven,  for  the  four  months  ending  June  30th ;  and  on  the 
20th  changed  camp  to  better  grounds,  a  mile  from  Manchester, 
on  the  Hillsboro'  road.  A  day  or  two  later  General  Crittenden 
was  summoned  home  to  attend  the  bedside  of  his  dying  father, 
and  for  the  next  three  weeks  the  Twenty-first  Corps  was  com 
manded  by  General  Palmer,  the  Second  Division  being  mean 
while  left  in  charge  of  General  Cruft,  the  ranking  brigade 

*  Or,  as  a  staff  officer  in  the  Sixth  Ohio  expressed  it,  bj  a  pun  of  unmiti 
gated  atrocity,  it  was  "  about  ended,  to  all  in-tents  and  '  purp  '-houses  ! " 


FROM    CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        439 

commander.  On  the  27th  a  division  court-martial  convened, 
of  which  General  Hazen  was  president,  and  Colonel  Anderson 
and  Captain  Russell  were  members.  On  the  28th,  the  brigade 
received  orders  to  ckop  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  cords  of 
wood,  in  two  feet  lengths,  for  the  railroad  locomotives,  and  the 
Sixth  Ohio  at  once  began  cutting  its  proportion,  which  was 
thirty  cords.  Camp  life  at  this  period  is  thus  described  in  an 
officer's  letter  home:  "We  lie  here,  on  an  open  plain  near 
Manchester,  broiling  and  frying  in  the  summer  sun,  a  perfect 
emblem  of  torpidity.  Every  morning  some  fifty  men  shoulder 
each  an  ax,  and  stroll  lazily  off  to  the  distant  woods  to  cut 
railroad  ties;  thirty  more  attend  guard-mounting,  and  disap 
pear  behind  the  brigade  guard-tent.  Then  all  signs  of  life 
disappear.  No  one  is  seen  until  evening,  when  the  wood- 
choppers  straggle  back,  dress  parade  is  held,  and  the  men  begin 
to  cook  their  suppers.  After  sundown  the  camp  is  alive  again ; 
officers  saunter  about  in  groups,  the  merry  hum  of  conversation 
is  heard,  the  regimental  Glee  Club  sings  cheerily,  (unless,  per 
chance,  it  be  away  serenading  Generals  Hazen,  Cruft,  or  other 
officers,)  and  drowsiness  is  laid  aside  till  midnight.  Such  is 
life  in  camp  at  present.  Why,  the  other  day  I  was  so  bored 
for  something  to  do,  that  I  sent  for  the  barber  and  had  my  face 
shaved  clean.  This  occupied  half  an  hour,  and  I  then  spent 
the  remainder  of  the  day  in  laughing  at  my  reflection  in  the 
looking-glass.  Throop  says  I  look  like  '  turtle-soup — lunch  at 
10  o'clock/  Go  down  Third  Street  almost  any  forenoon,  and 
you'll  see  what  he  means.  Since  we  have  been  in  this  camp, 
we  live  like  fighting  cocks.  Tender  mutton,  cabbage,  ncwT 
potatoes,  cucumbers,  tomatoes,  fresh  bread  and  butter  we  eat 
every  day ;  and,  as  I  write,  three  little  lambs  are  making  the 
afternoon  hideous  with  their  bleatings.  I'll  have  at  least  one 
of  them  bucked  and  gagged,  if  they  don't  stop  soon.  .  .  . 


440  THE   STOEY   OF   A    REGIMENT.    • 

I  have  just  this  moment  read  the  Commercial,  of  the  31st, 
and  am  delighted  with  Burnside.  Shave  Morgan,  Cluke,  and 
Duke,  and  put  them  in  jail!  BULLY!" 

On  Sunday,  August  2d,  the  brigade  wtis  reviewed  by  Col 
onel  Grose,  and  on  the  9th  by  General  Cruft.  On  the  3d, 
Captain  Bense  was  relieved  as  provost  marshal  of  the  brigade, 
and  with  his  detail,  which  was  complimented  for  its  efficiency 
and  good  conduct,  returned  to  the  regiment.  Two  days  after 
ward  he  obtained  a  fifteen  days'  leave  of  absence,  simultane 
ously  with  a  five  days'  leave  granted  Dr.  Stephens.  On  the 
4th,  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  under  Major 
Erwin,  went  out  with  a  forage  train,  returning  safely  on  the 
6th,  after  marching  many  miles.  Drills  were  resumed  a  day 
or  two  later,  but  were  a  great  weariness  to  the  flesh  on  ac 
count  of  the  heat.  In  splendid  condition  in  every  respect,  the 
Sixth  Ohio  about  this  time  accepted  a  challenge  which  the 
Nineteenth  Ohio  had  made  any  regiment  in  the  corps,  for  an 
inspection  of  arms ;  but  the  speedy  resumption  of  active  cam 
paigning  prevented  the  trial  from  taking  place.  On  the  14th, 
the  regiment  was  inspected  by  Captain  John  W.  Brooks,  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  the  newly-appointed  brigade  inspec 
tor;  and  on  the  16th  the  following  detail  was  sent  to  Ohio 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  forward  drafted  men,  whose  prob 
able  accession  to  its  ranks  the  whole  regiment  regarded  with 
unmistakable  disfavor.  As  it  eventuated,  however,  the  draft 
in  Ohio  was  repeatedly  postponed,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  never 
received  a  recruit  from  that  source.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Chris 
topher,  Captain  Donovan,  and  Lieutenant  Kestner;  Sergeants 
Edwin  Edwards,  Company  A;  Wm.  L.  Wolverton,  Company 
I;  Joseph  Turley,  Company  E;  John  Peer,  Company  G; 
and  Thomas  M.  Carr,  Company  B ;  and  Corporal  D.  W. 
McGillicuddy,  Company  H. 


FROM   CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        441 

General  Rosecrans  was  foiled  in  his  endeavors  to  strengthen 
his  cavalry  arm,  as  was  requisite  to  meet  coming  exigencies,  by 
the  scarcely-concealed  hostility  of  General  Halleck,  the  master 
marplot  of  the  war,  and  Secretary  Stanton,  who  protested  that 
"he  would  be  damned  if 'he  would  give  Rosecrans  another 
man ; "  nevertheless,  he  pushed  forward  his  preparations  with 
energy  and  good  judgment,  and,  by  the  middle  of  August,  was 
ready  to  renew  the  campaign  and  carry  the  National  banners  in 
triumph  into  Chattanooga — the  prize  long  coveted,  and  certain 
gateway  to  grander,  if  not  decisive  victories  in  the  future. 
Again  was  Bragg  completely  overreached  by  the  strategy  and 
enterprise  of  his  opponent,  and,  although  his  effort  to  retaliate 
was  partially  successful  at  Chickamauga,  Chattanooga  was  per 
manently  lost  to  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

August  16th,  Sunday. — While  Thomas  and  McCook  took  up 
their  line  of  march  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains  south-east 
ward,  to  cross  the  Tennessee  at  Caperton's  Ferry  (near  Steven 
son),  Bridgeport,  and  Shell  Mound — with  the  object  of  flanking 
the  enemy  out  of  Chattanooga,  by  passing  the  Sand  and  Look 
out  Mountains,  and  threatening  his  communications  toward 
Daltoii  and  Atlanta — Crittenden's  corps  was  put  en  route  for 
the  Sequatchie  and  Tennessee  Valleys,  there  to  menace  Bragg's 
front  from  the  northern  bank  of  the  Tennessee.  Palmer's  divis 
ion  was  ordered  to  Dunlap,  Wood's  to  Thurman,  and  Van 
Cleve's  to  Pikeville.  The  Second  Division  (Palmer's)  this 
day  marched  north-eastward  on  the  Hickory  Creek  road,  and 
encamped  near  Viola,  a  small  hamlet  about  ten  miles  south 
west  of  McMinnville  and  eighteen  from  Manchester.  A  heavy 
rain  set  in  about  noon,  but  it  proved  less  persistent  than  the 
memorable  storms  which  characterized  the  Stone  River  and 
Tullahoma  campaigns. 

August  17th. — Marched  into  Xorthcut's  Cove,  at  the  foot  of 


442  THE   STORY    OF   A    REGIMENT. 

the  main  ridge  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  and  thence 
through  a  narrow  gap  into  Rodgers'  Hollow,  a  fertile  vale 
watered  by  Collins'  River,  which  stream  the  Sixth  Ohio  had 
elsewhere  forded  more  than  once  the  year  before.  Passing  Ir 
ving  College,  the  troops  crossed  the  river,  and,  not  far  beyond, 
began  the  tortuous  ascent  of  the  mountain  by  an  excellent  turn 
pike  road  connecting  McMinnville  and  Dunlap,  and  camped  on 
Rock  River,  on  the  plateau  at  the  summit,  after  a  march  of 
about  twenty  miles. 

August  18th. — The  last  of  the  train  did  not  reach  camp  until 
noon,  so  that  the  division  marched  only  five  or  six  miles,  and 
again  encamped  on  the  mountain.  At  this  date  the  Sixth  Ohio 
was  temporarily  detached  for  duty  with  Hazen's  brigade. 

August  19th. — The  division  marched  fourteen  miles,  of 
which  the  last  five  were  down  the  eastern  slope  of  the  mount 
ain,  to  the  vicinity  of  Dunlap,  in  the  Sequatchie  Valley,  which 
is  one  of  the  loveliest  regions  in  Tennessee.  Here  Cruft's  and 
Grose's  brigades  remained,  but  Hazen's,  on  the  next  day, 
marched  fourteen  miles  further,  across  Waldron's  Ridge  (the 
eastern  range  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains)  to  Poe's  Tavern, 
at  an  important  cross-road  in  the  Valley  of  the  Tennessee,  which 
was  now  occupied  by  four  brigades,  namely,  Hazen's,  Wagner's, 
Wilder's  mounted  infantry,  and  Minty's  cavalry.  The  joint 
exertions  of  these  commands  were  highly  successful  in  mislead 
ing  Bragg  into  the  belief  that  Rosecrans'  main  army  was  about 
crossing  the  Tennessee  somewhere  above  Chattanooga,  and 
attempting  to  cut  off  Buckner's  forces  at  Loudon,  whither  they 
had  retreated  before  Burnside's  victorious  column,  now  in  pos 
session  of  the  greater  part  of  East  Tennessee,  including  Cum 
berland  Gap  and  Knoxville.  On  the  21st  Wilder's  mountain 
howitzers  shelled  Chattanooga  from  the  northern  bank  of  the 
river,  producing  great  consternation  among  the  citizens;  and 


FROM   CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        443 

eight  days  afterward  the  Union  army  began  crossing  the  Ten 
nessee  in  force,  at  three  different  points,  many  miles  below. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  spent  ten  very  pleasant  days  at  Poe's  Tavern, 
luxuriating  in  whatsoever  the  country  afforded,  and  well  treated 
by  Colonel  Hazen,  as  well  as  the  Union  people  of  that  region, 
who  gladly  welcomed  the  troops  among  them.  On  the  1st  of 
September  the  regiment  recrossed  Waldron's  Ridge  to  rejoin 
its  own  brigade  in  the  Sequatchie  Valley,  leaving  Hazen  to 
new  and  still  greater  demonstrations  of  activity  in  the  Valley 
of  the  Tennessee.  Fourteen  miles  brought  it  to  Dunlap, 
whence  the  residue  of  the  division  had  that  morning  set  out 
southward;  twenty  miles  more,  on  the  2d,  to  Jasper ;  and  seven 
miles,  on  the  3d,  to  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek.  Reunited  at 
this  point,  the  brigade,  on  the  4th,  followed  Cruft's  across  the 
Tennessee  on  rafts,  and  marched  five  miles  to  Shell  Mound, 
there  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  trains  and  artillery  which  had 
been  sent  around  to  the  pontoon  bridge  at  Bridgeport.  While 
these  impedimenta  were  coming  up,  many  of  the  troops,  on  the 
5th,  improved  the  opportunity  to  visit  the  celebrated  Nickajack 
Cave,  half  a  mile  distant ;  and  in  the  afternoon  the  division 
(or,  more  precisely  speaking,  CrufVs  and  Grose's  brigades  of  it) 
marched  eastwardly  seven  miles  to  Falling  Waters,  near  White- 
side  Station.  On  the  6th  it  moved  southward  up  "  Murphy's 
Hollow,"  which  debouches  through  a  narrow  gap  in  the  Rac 
coon  Mountains  into  Lookout  Valley,  and,  after  marching  six 
or  seven  miles,  bivouacked  on  the  Chattanooga  and  Trenton 
turnpike,  seven  miles  from  the  latter  place  and  eighteen  from 
the  former.  Here  it  lay  all  next  day  in  readiness  to  support 
Wood's  division,  which  had  moved  along  the  railroad  from 
Whiteside  Station  and  found  the  rebels  in  force  on  Lookout 
Mountain,  guarding  the  entrance  to  Chattanooga,  and  extend 
ing  their  picket-lines  and  signal  stations  along  the  mountain's 


444  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

crest,  within  plain  sight  of  both  divisions  in  Lookout  Valley 
below.  Thomas  and  McCook  were  many  miles  up  the  valley, 
on  the  right,  and  still  pushing  on  in  menacing  array  toward 
Bragg's  rear. 

On  the  8th  Palmer's  division  marched  eight  miles  down 
Lookout  Valley,  to  a  point  about  five  miles  south  of  Wau- 
hatchee,  and  within  eleven  miles  of  Chattanooga,  in  closer  sup 
port  of  General  Wood,  who  was  making  a  strong  and  skillful 
reconnoissance  to  unmask  the  enemy's  movements  beyond  the 
mountain.  Next  morning,  the  9th  of  September,  Chattanooga 
was  discovered  to  have  been  evacuated  during  the  night,  and 
Wood  moved  into  it  at  once,  taking  possession  without  firing 
a  shot.  Meanwhile  three  regiments  of  Grose's  brigade  climbed 
the  heights  of  Lookout  to  Summertown,  which  was  a  hamlet, 
formerly  of  fashionable  summer  resort,  on  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  overlooking  Chattanooga.  The  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
having  the  advance,  succeeded  in  getting  a  few  shots  at  the 
enemy's  pickets  as  they  hastily  retreated ;  the  preconcerted 
signal,  to  indicate  that  the  ridge  was  clear  of  rebels,  was  then 
given  to  the  troops  lying  in  the  valley  below,  and  they  began 
moving  by  the  main  Avagon-road  across  the  "  Nose  of  Look 
out" — the  bluff  extremity  of  the  mountain,  abutting  on  the 
Tennessee.  Says  an  officer  of  the  Third  Brigade  :  *  "  The 
prospect  that  met  our  view  when  we  reached  Summertown  was 
grand  beyond  description.  We  were  upon  a  high,  bold  bluff, 
nearly  two  thousand  feet  above  the  Tennessee  River.  The 
city  of  Chattanooga,  almost  deserted,  was  only  two  and  a  half 
miles  distant,  and  so  much  beneath  us  that  we  could  look  down 
into  all  its  streets.  Long  lines  of  dust  marked  the  road  upon 
which  the  enemy  was  retreating,  and  a  few  miles  to  the  east- 

*  Quartermaster  Simmons,  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  and  historian  of 
that  regiment.     The  Sixth  Ohio  followed  the  main  wagon-road. 


FROM    CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        445 

ward  rose  the  thickly-wooded  slopes  of  Missionary  Ridge,  with 
the  Pigeon  and  Chattagutta  Mountains  far  in  the  distance  be 
yond.  Broad  and  fertile  valleys,  or  coves,  lay  between  the 
mountain  ranges,  beautiful  in  their  quiet  repose,  and  not  yet 
entirely  devastated  by  the  terrible  simoom  of  civil  war.  It 
was  a  lovely  picture."  Toward  evening  the  regiments  de 
scended  by  the  road  leading  to  Chattanooga,  and,  rejoining  the 
division,  moved  across  Chattanooga  Valley  and  out  the  road  to 
Rossville,  near  which  place  the  whole  command  encamped  after 
a  day's  march  of  sixteen  miles. 

Brilliantly  successful  up  to  this  point,  Rosecrans  already  had 
the  objective  of  the  campaign  in  his  possession.  The  very  ease, 
however,  with  which  Chattanooga  had  been  occupied  was 
really  portentous  of  a  mighty  peril.  Thrown  off  his  guard 
for  the  moment,  Rosecrans  at  once  accepted  as  true  the  first 
reports  from  his  extended  front  to  the  effect  that  Bragg  was  in 
hurried  retreat  through  Ringgold  and  Dalton  to  Rome,  which 
place  was  beyond  the  Coosa  and  sixty  miles  from  Chattanooga ; 
and  instead,  therefore,  of  calling  in  his  scattered  corps  and  con 
centrating  at  once  to  guard  the  prize  so  skillfully  won,  he  made 
dispositions  to  pursue  the  rebel  army  in  its  supposed  retreat, 
hoping  to  cripple  it,  at  least,  before  it  could  pass  beyond  his 
reach ;  and  intending,  after  that,  to  take  position  behind  the 
mountain  gaps,  for  what  would  then  be  the  easy  task  of  hold 
ing  Chattanooga  and  making  ready  for  another  advance — per 
chance  to  Atlanta!  But  Rosecrans  was  terribly  mistaken  in 
his  convictions  as  to  Bragg's  strategy.*  Instead  of  being  in 

*  Gen.  Rosecrans  does  not  directly  admit  his  misconception  of  Bragg's 
purposes,  much  less  the  mistakes  into  which  he  was  led  thereby ;  but  it  is 
very  difficult  to  understand  how  any  candid  investigator  of  the  facts  in  the 
case  could  arrive  at  any  other  conclusion  than  that  set  forth  in  the  text. 
Mr.  Whitelaw  Reid's  statement  (in  "Ohio  in  the  War,"  vol.  I,  p.  340), 


446  THE    STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

precipitate  retreat  upon  Rome,  the  rebels  were  quietly  concen 
trating  at  Lafayette,  only  twenty-six  miles  from  Chattanooga, 
leaving  a  large  and  strongly-supported  detachment  at  Lee  and 
Gordon's  Mills  (about  equidistant  from  the  two  places),  to 
watch  the  line  of  the  Chickamauga  and  report  the  movements 
of  Crittenden's  corps  beyond.  They  had  already  been  ree'n- 
forced  by  Buckner's  troops  from  East  Tennessee,  while  the 
remnants  of  the  Mississippi  army  and  Bragg's  own  reserves 
were  coming  up  by  every  train  ;  and,  above  all,  two  splendid 
divisions  belonging  to  Longstreet's  corps  were  just  in  the  act 
of  embarking  at  Richmond,  to  turn  the  tide  of  war  in  Georgia 
and  roll  it  redly  back  across  the  Tennessee. 

September  10th. — Crittenden's  corps  having  been  ordered  to 
follow  up  the  enemy  vigorously  on  the  Ringgold  turnpike, 
Palmer's  division  moved  through  a  gap  in  the  range  known 
as  Missionary  Ridge,  but  halted  at  the  end  of  ten  miles,  to 
wait  for  rations,  and  bivouacked  near  Graysville,  which  is  on 
Chickamauga  Creek,  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Rossville. 
Rebel  cavalry  were  encountered  soon  after  starting  in  the 
morning,  and  a  body  of  them  charged  the  advance,  rode  pell- 
mell  over  four  companies  of  the  First  Kentucky  Infantry, 

that  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  was  fought  to  enable  the  Union  army  to 
concentrate  at  Chattanooga,  is  altogether  erroneous.  General  Wood  is  sub 
stantially  correct  in  saying  (in  a  private  manuscript,  now  lying  upon  the 
writer's  table):  "There  is  abundance  of  evidence  in  existence  to  prove 
that,  at  the  date  of  the  occupation  of  Chattanooga  by  the  leading  division 
of  the  Twenty-first  Corps,  neither  the  Fourteenth  nor  Twentieth  Corps  had 
become  involved  in  the  laborious  passage  of  the  Lookout  Mountain  range. 
Both  were  in  Wills'  Valley.  The  assertion  that  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
was  the  unavoidable  price  of  the  permanent  possession  of  Chattanooga  is 
a  fallacy."  Mr.  Swinton,  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  careful  writers  upon 
the  war,  advances  identically  the  same  opinion.  Greeley's  "American 
Conflict"  also  contains  an  expression  of  similar  import. 


FROM   CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAT7GA.        447 

captured  fifty  men  and  two  officers,  and  escaped  with  them 
unharmed.  One  of  the  rebel  officers,  as  he  dashed  close  along 
the  front  of  the  Union  line,  stood  up  in  his  stirrups,  waved  his 
hat  in  bravado,  and  yelled,  "  Hurrah  for  hell  and  Georgia!" 
In  punishment,  as  was  supposed,  for  cleaning  out  the  smoke 
house,  etc.,  of  a  rebel  captain  belonging  to  this  band,  Colonel 
Grose,  in  the  afternoon,  sent  the  Sixth  Ohio  a  mile  or  two  out 
to  drive  away  some  guerrillas  still  hovering  on  the  front,  which 
object  was  soon  and  easily  accomplished ;  "  but  forty  barrels  of 
grape-cider,"  says  one  account,  "  being  discovered  in  a  cellar 
near  where  we  halted,  the  last  state  of  the  regiment  was  worse 
than  the  first.  It  came  back  happier  than  a  Dutch  picnic ! " 
At  night  General  Wood  found  a  contraband  who  communi 
cated  the  startling  intelligence  of  Bragg's  real  whereabouts. 
Rosecrans  had  also  ascertained  that  the  main  rebel  army  had 
retreated  along  the  Lafayette  road,  but  how  far  was  not  known. 
September  llth. — Palmer's  division  was  rejoined  by  Hazen's 
brigade  and  marched  to  Kinggold — five  miles.  Wood  was  sent 
to  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mills  to  reconnoiter,  there  remaining  until 
the  battle.  Colonel  Wilder's  mounted  infantry  pushed  out  to 
ward  Tunnel  Hill,  skirmishing  heavily  with  rebel  cavalry. 
The  result  of  Wood's  reconnoissance,  together  with  information 
derived  from  other  sources,  soon  satisfied  General  Rosecrans  of 
Bragg's  proximity  and  great  strength,  and  made  him  realize 
that  it  was  a  matter  of  life  and  death  to  effect  the  speediest 
possible  concentration.  From  flank  to  flank  of  his  scattered 
army  the  distance  was  measured  by  scores  of  miles  over  rugged 
mountains,  which  no  wheel  could  pass,  except  by  difficult  roads, 
at  wide  intervals.  The  enemy,  lying  opposite  the  center,  mean 
while  had  it  in  his  power  to  fall  upon  either  Thomas  or  Crit- 
tenden,  crush  them  both  in  quick  succession,  and  then  destroy 
McCook>  helpless  and  alone,  amid  the  entanglements  of  the 


448  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

mountains.  To  think  of  the  fate  which,  for  a  whole  week 
preceding  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  hung  suspended  over  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  by  a  thread  no  surer  than  Bragg's 
imbecility,  is  enough  to  make  one's  flesh  creep  with  horror! 

Before  we  again  follow  the  Sixth  Ohio  into  the  storm  of 
battle,  let  us  pause  just  a  moment  to  note  the  personnel  of  its 
officers.  Assistant  Surgeon  Fountain  having  tendered  his 
resignation  on  account  of  ill  health,  it  was  accepted  on  the  8th 
of  August.  He  subsequently  served,  on  contract,  in  various 
hospitals  in  Louisville  and  Nashville;  was  afterward  recom- 
missioned,  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Eighty-eighth  Ohio,  with 
the  position  of  executive  officer  of  the  post  hospital  at  Camp 
Chase,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  June,  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Columbus. 
Dr.  Israel  Bedell,  who  was  the  next  and  last  assistant  surgeon 
of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  was  born  in  Niagara  County,  New  York,  in 
1834,  came  to  Knox  County,  Ohio,  in  1839,  and,  after  reading 
medicine  in  Mt.  Yernon,  Ohio,  and  attending  one  course  of 
lectures  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  finally  graduated  from  the 
Medical  University  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  joined  the 
regiment  early  in  September  (1863),  and,  to  use  the  language 
of  Dr.  Stephens,  "  took  hold  like  an  old  soldier."  On  the  4th 
of  September,  Second  Lieutenant  Wesley  B.  Maclane,  who  had 
been  promoted  from  first  sergeant  of  Co.  I,  dating  several 
months  back,  was  assigned  to  Co.  B,  with  which  he  continued 
until  a  few  minutes  after  the  regiment  got  under  fire  at  Chicka 
mauga.  He  resigned  in  October  and  came  home.  In  this 
connection  we  may  record  the  appointment,  on  July  5th,  of 
private  George  W.  Pyne,  of  Co.  A,  and  John  H.  Bueltel,  of 
Co.  K,  as  Principal  Musicians,  agreeably  to  a  recent  order  from 
the  War  Department  recognizing  that  grade.  Lieutenant 


FROM   CRIPPLE   CREEK   TO   THE   CHICKAMAUGA.        449 

Scliieifer  reached  the  front  July  21st,  but  was  not  nearly  re 
covered  from  his  Stone  River  wounds,  and  in  August  was 
ordered  to  the  rear  upon  other  duty.  On  the  13th  of  July 
Lieutenant  Choate  was  relieved  from  the  command  of  Co.  E, 
by  Lieutenant  Antram;  and  on  the  16th  of  August  Lieutenant 
Irwin  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Co.  K,  during  the 
absence  of  Captain  Donovan,  on  recruiting  service,  etc. 

Thus  the  officers  that  took  part  with  the  Sixth  Ohio  in  the 
Chickamauga  campaign  were  as  follows  : 

Field  and  Staff — Colonel  Anderson,  Major  Erwin,  Adjutant 
Throop,  Surgeon  Stephens,  Assistant  Surgeon  Bedell,  and 
Quartermaster  Shoemaker. 

Company  A — Captain  Oilman  and  Second  Lieutenant  Good- 
nough. 

Company  B — Captain  Montagnier,  First  Lieutenant  Holmes, 
and  Second  Lieutenant  Maclane  (the  latter  as  before  noted). 

Company  C — Captain  Southgate. 

Company  D — Captain  Russell  and  Second  Lieutenant 
Glisan. 

Company  E — First  Lieutenant  Antram  (detached  from 
Company  H). 

Company  F — Captain  Thatcher  and  Second  Lieutenant 
La  Bille. 

Company  G — Captain  Getty,  First  Lieutenant  Choate,  and 
Second  Lieutenant  Cormany. 

Company  H — Captain  Tinker  and  Second  Lieutenant  Meline 

Company  I — Captain  Bense  and  Second  Lieutenant  Lewis. 

Company  K — First  Lieutenant  Irwin  (detached  from  Com 
pany  F)  and  Second  Lieutenant  Slanker. 

29 


450  THE  STORY   OF  A  EEGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 
CHICKAMAUGA. 

(SEPTEMBER  12-20,  1863.) 

C1EPTEMBER  12th.— Proceeding  a  few  miles  south- west- 
K^  ward  of  Ringgold,  along  Pea  Vine  Ridge,  Palmers  divis 
ion  changed  its  line  of  march  directly  to  the  west,  lost  several 
men  in  a  skirmish  near  Gilbert's,  and,  after  marching  thirteen 
miles,  reached  Gordon's  Mill,  where  the  entire  corps  was  now 
concentrated.  Wilder's  mounted  infantry,  following  and  cov 
ering  this  flank  movement,  had  heavy  skirmishing,  especially 
at  Leet's  tan-yard.  In  the  afternoon,  Hazen's  brigade  made  a 
reconnoissance  two  miles  beyond  the  ford  which  Wood  had  been 
guarding  at  Gordon's  Mill,  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy 
until  near  night-fall.  The  alarming  fact  could  no  longer  be 
doubted  that  Bragg's  main  army,  heavily  reenforced,  was  on 
the  Lafayette  road  but  a  few, miles  south  of  Gordon's  Mill, 
bent  upon  retaking  Chattanooga.  Crittenden's  position  was 
now  dangerous  in  the  extreme,  on  account  of  its  isolation  ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  his  corps  was  numerically  weaker  than  either 
Thomas'  or  McCook's.  At  this  date,  the  Fourteenth  Corps 
was  in  the  vicinity  of  Bailey's  Cross-roads,  eighteen  miles 
from  Gordon's  Mill,  toward  the  head  of  McLemore's  Cove, 
and  beyond  Missionary  Ridge,  and  the  Twentieth  was  resting 
near  Alpine,  in  Broom  town  Valley,  forty  miles  from  the  same 


CHICKAMAUGA.  451 

position  by  the  nearest  route,  and  fifty-seven  miles  by  that 
which  McCook  subsequently  took,  crossing  the  Lookout  range 
twice. 

September  13th,  Sunday. — Reveille  was  sounded  early,  with 
a  tremendous  clangor  of  drums,  fifes,  and  bugles;  and  bands 
were  also  dispatched  hither  and  thither,  to  come  back  playing 
noisily,  as  if  reinforcements  were  arriving.  The  three  divis 
ions  were  put  into  position  for  defense,  making  as  great  a  show 
as  possible,  and  here  remained  all  day.  Cruft  and  Wilder 
were  sent  out  to  reconnoiter  on  the  left,  the  Fourth  United 
States  Cavalry  on  the  right,  toward  McLemore's  Cove,  and  a 
brigade  of  Van  Cleve's  division  to  the  front,  the  last-named 
force  driving  the  rebel  outposts  a  distance  of  three  miles  toward 
Lafayette,  and  sustaining  several  casualties. 

September  14th. — In  obedience  to  orders  from  General  Rose- 
crans,  Palmer's  and  Van  Cleve's  divisions  were  moved  west 
ward  to  "the  southern  spur  of  Missionary  Ridge,  so  as  to 
command  the  valley  of  Chattanooga  Creek  "  (beyond  the  ridge) 
whence  General  Thomas  was  communicated  with  upon  the 
right.  The  Second  Division  this  day  marched  about  eight  miles, 
reaching  its  assigned  position  on  Chattanooga  Creek  between 
eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

September  15th. — Disappointed  by  his  failure  in  a  promising 
attempt  to  strike  Thomas  unawares,  as  his  divisions  pushed 
across  McLemore's  Cove' to  Dug  Gap  in  the  Pigeon  Mountains, 
the  enemy  was  found  to  have  withdrawn  from  the  front  between 
Crittenden  and  Thomas,  and  McCook's  advance  being  reported 
within  supporting  distance  of  the  latter,  the  Twenty-first  Corps 
was  countermarched  toward  Gordon's  Mill.  Palmer's  division, 
by  a  march  of  eleven  miles,  obtained  a  position  near  Gowan's 
Ford,  on  the  Chickamauga,  six  or  seven  miles  above  Gordon's 
Mill  (southward  from  it),  and  covered  the  line  of  the  creek  for 


452  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

four  or  five  miles.  Van  Cleve's  division  was  posted  at  Craw 
fish  Springs,  about  four  miles  toward  the  north-west. 

September  16th. — Grose's  brigade  reconnoitered  a  few  miles 
eastward,  in  the  direction  of  one  of  the  gaps  in  Pigeon  Mount 
ains.  It  found  no  enemy,  but  succeeded  in  capturing  some 
potatoes,  which  proved  very  good  eating. 

September  17th. — In  the  morning,  Hazen's  pickets  on  the 
road  from  Crawfish  Springs  to  Lafayette  were  ridden  over  by 
a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry  (said  to  be  drunk)  who  penetrated 
nearly  to  brigade  head-quarters,  and  were  there  captured. 
Thomas'  troops  having  begun  arriving  on  Crittenden's  lines, 
Palmer's  division  in  the  afternoon  was  moved  northward,  by  a 
march  of  three  miles,  to  within  two  miles  of  Crawfish  Springs. 
Grose's  brigade  bivouacked  behind  some  slashed  timber,  form 
ing  a  good  cover  for  its  front. 

September  18th. — The  movement  of  the  army  toward  the 
left  (the  north-east)  was  continued  as  secretly  as  possible.  Sev 
eral  companies  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  on  the  picket-line  became 
engaged  in  a  bitter  little  skirmish  toward  evening,  and  private 
Joseph  Hooth,  of  Company  F,  was  shot  in  the  head  and  in 
stantly  killed.  Evidences  accumulated  during  the  day  that 
the  rebels  were  massing  heavily  in  front  of  the  Union  left,  and 
miles  beyond,  down  the  Chickamauga,  undoubtedly  for  the 
purpose  of  turning  that  flank  and  interposing  between  Rose- 
crans  and  Chattanooga.  Crittenden  was  ordered  to  proceed 
with  Palmer's  and  Van  Cleve's  divisions  to  drive  the  enemy 
from  the  Rossville  road  and  form  on  the  left  of  Wood,  whose 
position  at  Gordon's  Mill  had  been  heavily  threatened  at  the 
same  time  that  the  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry  at  Reid's  and 
Alexander's  bridges  (a  few  miles  down  the  Chickamauga)  had 
been  forced  back  by  the  enemy's  advance,  fighting  stubbornly 
as  they  retired. 


CHICKAMAUGA.  453 

Starting  about  midnight  on  the  18th,  Palmer's  division 
made  a  tedious  march  of  five  miles,  past  Crawfish  Springs  and 
through  what  seemed  almost  illimitable  forests,  and  at  dawn 
on  Saturday,  the  19th,  found  itself  in  position  next  on  the  left 
of  Van  Cleve  and  about  one  mile  north  of  Gordon's  Mill.  Its 
formation  at  this  hour  was  the  same  as  at  Stone  River — Cruft 
on  the  right,  Hazen  on  the  left,  and  Grose  in  reserve.  For 
a  week  the  troops  had  lived  in  an  atmosphere  of  battle,  and  with 
their  guns  in  their  hands;  yet  few,  except  the  higher  officers, 
imagined  that  the  dread  issue  was  so  soon  to  be  decided.  The 
men  were  jaded  by  their  night  march  and  previous  harass 
ing  service,  but  were  in  excellent  spirits  notwithstanding — full 
of  the  confidence  begotten  of  trained  self-reliance,  and  brim 
ming  over  with  the  dashing,  half-reckless  courage  characteristic 
of  old  and  successful  campaigners.  About  8  A.  M.,  Grose's 
brigade  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  down  the  road 
and  in  the  direction  of  Reid's  Mill,  to  ascertain  if  the  main 
road  from  Gordon's  Mill  to  Rossville  was  clear  of  the  enemy, 
and,  if  practicable,  whether  Colonel  Dan  McCook's  brigade  still 
held  Reid's  bridge,  as  it  had  been  reported  doing  on  the  even 
ing  before.  Threading  its  way  through  thick  woods,  with 
occasional  clearings,  Grose's  command,  at  the  end  of  two  miles, 
reached  Baird's  division  (formerly  Rousseau's),  which  had 
marched  all  night  with  the  rest  of  Thomas'  corps,  and  had 
taken  position  on  the  Rossville  road,  while  Brannan's  division 
(in  the  main,  Thomas'  old  division)  had  filed  past  him  and 
formed  upon  his  left,  extending  the  line  of  battle  north\vard, 
in  the  direction  of  Rossville.  While  the  troops  were  halted 
upon  Baird's  right,  heavy  volleys  of  musketry  were  heard  along 
the  front,  some  distance  to  the  left;  but  the  sound  soon  died 
away,  and  the  brigade  then  returned  to  the  division,  rejoining 


454  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

it  about  half-past  ten  o'clock,  without  having  encountered  any 
enemy. 

A  mail  which  had  arrived  during  its  absence,  was  immedi 
ately  distributed,  and  many  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  were  bending 
over  their  newspapers,  or  stretched  in  utter  weariness  on  the 
ground,  when  the  roar  of  artillery  broke  out  hoarsely  in  the 
direction  whence  they  had  just  returned,  accompanied  by  heavy 
and  continuous  musketry  firing.  Brannan,  on  the  extreme  left, 
was  hotly  engaged,  and  Baird  was  becoming  involved,  as 
Bragg's  solid  masses  swept  across  the  Chickamauga,  and,  by  a 
movement  resembling  a  left  wheel  of  the  whole  line,  carried 
the  assault  southward,  toward  Gordon's  Mill.  All  being  quiet 
upon  his  own  front,  Crittenden  ordered  Palmer  to  the  support 
of  the  left,  and  the  division  promptly  started.  It  had  pro 
ceeded  less  than  one-third  of  the  distance  to  the  point  reached 
by  Grose's  brigade  two  hours  before,  when  it  came  upon  the 
enemy  in  force,  pushing  steadily  forward  to  envelop  Johnson's 
division  (of  McCook's  corps)  which  was  hastily  moving  into 
position  to  cover  Baird's  flank,  previously  exposed.  The  divis 
ion  formed  rapidly  on  Johnson's  right — Hazen's  brigade  on 
the  left,  Craft's  next,  and  Grose's  on  the  right,  and,  simultane 
ously,  the  line  was  extended  still  further  to  the  right  by  a  divis 
ion  of  Thomas'  corps,  under  General  Reynolds — the  same  who, 
at  Elkwater,  used  pleasantly  to  call  the  Sixth  Ohio  his  "  sing 
ing  regiment."  By  one  o'clock  the  Second  Division  had  be 
come  engaged  along  its  entire  line,  and  the  Third  Brigade  was 
rocked  in  such  a  tempest  of  battle  as  exceeded  all  its  previous 
experiences,  not  even  excepting  those  of  Stone  River. 

We  can  not  follow  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  through  all 
the  phases  of  that  terrific  contest,  in  which  Bragg,  by  his  own 
confession,  lost  two-fifths  of  his  army,  and  Rosecrans  escaped 
destruction  but  by  a  hair's-breadth.  The  intensity  and  des- 


CHICKAMAUGA.  455 

peration  of  the  struggle;  the  splendid  fighting  of  that  grand 
old  army  which  was  battling  greatly  superior  numbers,  and  at 
many  disadvantages  in  addition;  the  undaunted  courage  of  the 
men,  who  could  be  overpowered  and  driven,  but  never  whipped, 
because  they  would  not  be ;  the  shifting  of  brigade  after  brigade, 
and  division  after  division,  toward  the  left,  which  was  the  vital 
point  of  the  field ;  the  shearing  off  of  seven  brigades  upon  the 
right,  and  the  staggering  of  the  center ;  the  rock-like  firmness 
of  General  Thomas,  commanding  the  left,  whose  service  was 
nothing  less  magnificent  than  saving  the  army,  after  Rosecrans 
(upon  another  part  of  the  field)  had  given  up  the  day  as  lost 
and  retired  to  Chattanooga — these  are  all  matters  of  history, 
to  which  a  simple  reference  is  all  that  the  scope  of  this  volume 
permits.  Palmer's  division  fought  under  the  command  of  Gen.- 
eral  Thomas  throughout — during  the  first  day,  in.  the  position 
before  mentioned,  and  on  the  second  day,  in  the  center  of 
Thomas'  line,  with  Johnson  and  Baird  on  the  left,  and  Rey 
nolds  and  Brannan  on  the  right.  Its  loss  was  very  heavy,  but, 
happily,  the  Third  Brigade  escaped  with  somewhat  fewer  cas 
ualties  than  at  Stone  River. 

The  Sixth  Ohio's  share  in  those  sanguinary  conflicts  in  the 
woods,  upon  the  banks  of  "Dead  Man's  River,"*  is  fully 
described  in  the  official  reports,  and  the  private  letter  from 
one  of  its  bravest  and  most  intelligent  subalterns,  which  com 
plete  this  chapter.  It  is  impossible  to  particularize  the  exam 
ples  of  daring  and  steadfast  courage  which  crowned  the  lives 
of  its  Chickamauga  slain,  and  covered  with  honor  the  record 
of  almost  every  survivor.  Though  they  were  counted  by  hun 
dreds,  each  one  is  ineffaceably  traced  on  many  a  comrade's 
memory,  and  none  needs  repetition  here  to  lend  it  newer 

*  The  word  "-Chickamauga "  is  from  the  Cherokee  tongue,  in  which  it 
is  said  to  mean  "  Dead  Man's  River." 


456  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

luster.*  As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  regiment  went 
into  action  on  the  morning  of  September  19th  with  an  aggre 
gate  strength  of  345,  or  23  officers  and  322  enlisted  men.  Of 
this  number  12  were  killed,  6  mortally  wounded,  76  received 
wounds  which  necessitated  their  transfer  to  general  hospital, 
and  in  the  majority  of  cases  resulted  in  permanent  disable 
ment,  and  16  were  reported  missing  in  action — making  a  total 
loss  of  110.  During  the  battle  the  regiment  expended  27,680 
rounds  of  ammunition,  scores  of  the  men  firing  more  than  150 
rounds  each. 

CASUALTIES  OF   THE  SIXTH  OHIO. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. —  Wounded — Colonel  Anderson,  Adjutant 
Throop,  and  Sergeant-Major  Mellen. 

COMPANY  A. — Mortally  wounded — Corporal  Kirkland  W.  Cow 
ing  and  private  Frank  B.  Brown.  Wounded — Captain  Oilman, 
Corporal  John  A.  Gushing,  and  private  James  Harahan. 

*  But  we  need  ask  no  pardon  for  quoting  the  following  from  General 
Crittenden's  official  report:  "It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  call  attention 
to  John  Atkins,  Company  D,  Second  Kentucky  Infantry,  senior  clerk  in 
the  Assistant  Adjutant-General's  office,  who  remained  on  the  field  with 
my  staff  both  days,  and  aided  me  as  much  as  any  one  in  rallying  the 
men.  He  is  a  good  clerk,  well  educated,  and  in  every  thing  competent  to 
command,  and  is  deserving  of  a  commission.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
George  C.  James,  private  in  .Company  A,  Sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  clerk  to 
my  Chief  of  Artillery  and  Topographical  Engineer  [Captain  Mendenhall], 
who,  when  detailed  as  a  clerk,  stipulated  that  he  should  be  permitted  to 
join  his  regiment  when  on  the  march  with  the  prospect  of  an  engage 
ment.  On  the  march  from  Murfreesboro'  to  Manchester  he  joined  his 
regiment;  and  also  from  the  time  of  crossing  the  Tennessee  River  until 
the  termination  of  the  late  engagements,  in  both  of  which  he  participated. 
If  promotion  can  not  be  had  in  their  regiments,  some  distinguished  mark 
of  honor  should  be  bestowed  on  both." 


CHICKAMAUGA.  457 

COMPANY  B. — Killed — Corporals  Edwin  H.  Howe  and  Philip 
B.  Helfenbein,  and  private  Richard  R.  Allen.  Mortally  wounded — 
Private  John  Aufderheide.  Wounded — Captain  Montagnier,  Cor 
poral  Lewis  N.  Kibby,  and  privates  David  Schreiber,  James  War 
ren,  and  James  Mitchell.  Missing — First  Lieutenant  Holmes  and 
private  John  A.  Ziegler.  (Private  Adam  Rohe  was  also  captured 
the  day  before  the  battle.) 

COMPANY  C. —  Wounded — Corporal  John  C.  Hefferman,  and 
privates  William  A.  Baldwin,  Edmund  Luthy,  and  Antoine 
Brown.  Missing — Private  Jos.  T.  Fox. 

COMPANY  D. — Killed — Sergeant  James  F.  McGregor  and  pri 
vate  George  K.  Kopp.  Mortally  wounded — Private  Samuel  W. 
Stephenson.  Wounded — Privates  Frederick  H.  Bastian.  August 
Bristol,  Reinhold  Hoffman,  Michael  Renner,  Wm.  F.  Dill,  Frank 
A.  Manns,  and  Frederick  Soghan. 

COMPANY  E. — Killed — Private  Robert  E.  Tuxworth.  Mortally 
wounded — Corporal  Benj.  F.  Terry  (color-guard).  Wounded — 
Corporal  Alex.  Rigler,  and  privates  Charles  Eckhardt,  Jos.  E. 
Lougenbach,  Anthony  W.  Bowen,  Reuben  D.  Burgess,  Miles 
Blake,  Horatio  Tucker,  Abram  A.  Truesdale,  and  John  Fisher. 
Missing — Privates  Nelson  A.  Britt  (died  in  rebel  prison)  and 
John  Paul  Robenstein, 

COMPANY  F. — Killed — Privates  Joseph  Hooth  and  James  H. 
Deans.  Wounded — Sergeant  Wm.  E.  Jackson,  Corporals  Freder 
ick  Linenbrink,  Milton  Limebach,  and  James  Wood,  and  privates 
Henry  Leonard,  David  Downey,  George  Hoffman,  William  Kes- 
semeier,  John  Linceman,  Seth  G.  Perkins,  Stuart  Terwilliger, 
Frederick  Taphorn,  Clement  Theising,  Anthony  Schaffer,  Charles 
Young,  and  James  Yost.  Missing — Private  James  Lafever  and 
Musician  Wm.  Young. 

COMPANY  G. — Killed — Private  John  Huddlestone.  Wounded — 
Second  Lieutenant  Cormany,  Corporal  Wm.  A.  Clark,  and  privates 
Wm.  H.  Service,  John  H.  Loskam,  Joseph  Long,  Joseph  Katch- 
tng,  James  A.  Taylor,  Andrew  Kellar,  and  Wm.  H.  Sturgia. 


468 


THE    STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


Missing — First  Sergeant  Abraham  G.  Price  and  private  John 
Singer  (died  in  rebel  prison). 

COMPANY  H. — Mortally  wounded — Private  John  Christ.  Wound 
ed — Captain  Tinker,  Corporal  Frank  D.  Wentworth,  and  privates 
James  F.  Attee,  Richard  Thompson,  George  W.  Whistler,  and 
August  Friday.  -Missing — Privates  Charles  Schuster,  Michael 
Manley,  and  William  C.  Allen  (wounded). 

COMPANY  I. — Killed — Private  Daniel  E.  McCarty.  Wounded— 
Captain  Bense,  Sergeant  Ferdinand  McDonough,  Corporals  George 
S.  La  Rue,  and  William  Crawford,  and  privates  Newton  Bucknell, 
August  Grass,  William  Yager,  and  Christ.  Kohli.  Missing — Pri 
vates  James  Carson  and  William  Maygaffoygan. 

COMPANY  K. — Killed — Sergeant  John  A.  Osling  (color-bearer) 
and  Corporal  Henry  F.  Funk.  Wounded — Corporals  Nehemiah 
V.  Pennington  and  William  Gain,  and  privates  Christ.  Albert, 
Wm.  T.  Goodwin,  Frederick  Wehking,  and  Theodore  Ortman. 
Missing — Privates  Wm.  A.  Lohn  and  Lorenz  Huber. 

RECAPITULATION. 


P  5" 

£ 

9 

g> 

9 

o 
o 

? 

9 

g> 

£ 

2 

g 

> 

bd 

p 

y 

H 

p 

W 

M 

w 

1 

:     &> 

: 

Killed 

^ 

2 

1 

2 

i 

...      1 

2 

12 

Mortally  wound'd. 

« 

2 

1 

« 

1 

1 

6 

3 

8 

5 

4 

7 

9 

16 

9 

6 

8 

6 

76 

2 

1 

2 

9, 

2 

8 

2 

2 

Total  

3 

5 

11 

5 

10 

13 

flO 

12 

10 

11 

10 

110 

MAJOR  ERWIN'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

CAMP  OF  THE  SIXTH  OHIO  VOLUNTEERS,         j 

NEAR  CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  September  27,  1863.  ) 

Colonel  Wm.  Grose,  commanding  Third  Brigade — 

COLONEL:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of 
the  part  taken  by  the  Sixth  Ohio  Volunteers  in  the  recent  battle 
of  "Missionary  Ridge"  [Chickamauga].  On  the  morning  of  the 
18th  inst.  the  effective  force  of  the  regiment  was  23  officers  and 


CHICKAMAUGA.  459 

324  enlisted  men.  On  the  evening  of  that  day,  while  on  outpost 
duty,  private  Hooth,  of  Captain  Thatcher's  company,  was  shot  by 
the  enemy's  pickets,  and  instantly  killed.  On  the  morning  of 
Saturday,  the  19th,  after  returning  from  a  reconnoissance  made  by 
the  brigade  under  your  personal  direction  [and  also  after  the 
division  had  moved  to  Baird's  support],  we  were  posted  in  the 
second  line  of  the  brigade,  two,  or  perhaps  more,  of 'the  right 
companies  extending  beyond  our  front  line — the  right  company 
detached  and  posted  on  the  right  of  Cushing's  battery.  We  had 
been  thus  placed  but  a  short  time  when  the  engagement  began, 
and  soon  became  general.  The  enemy  pushing  toward  our  right, 
our  regiment  was  extended  in  that  direction,  and  all  were  hotly 
engaged  at  once.  The  loss  of  our  regiment  here  was  quite  severe. 
Captain  Gilman,  Adjutant  Throop,  and  Sergeant-Major  Mellen 
were  all  severely  wounded. 

We  held  our  position  until  the  enemy  was  repulsed,  when,  our 
ammunition  being  entirely  exhausted,  we  retired,  by  order  of  Gen 
eral  Palmer,  across  the  road  to  the  rear  of  the  Seventeenth  In 
diana  Battery,  to  get  a  fresh  supply  of  ammunition.  Having 
received  it,  we  were  moving  in  order  to  rejoin  the  brigade,  when 
the  troops  in  our  front  and  on  our  right  gave  way  in  confusion, 
and  the  enemy  made  a  dash  for  the  battery,  which  had  been 
placed  in  reserve,  and  was  without  infantry  supports.  We  imme 
diately  formed  in  the  rear  of  the  battery  for  its  defense,  under  as 
hot  a  fire  of  musketry  as  I  ever  saw.  The  enemy,  in  front,  were 
held  in  check  by  a  furious  discharge  of  grape  and  canister  from  the 
artillery,  but  in  a  few  minutes  gained  our  right  flank,  and  from 
thence  poured  in  a  destructive  fire.  We  then  changed  front  to 
the  rear  on  tenth  company,  and  held  them  while  five  of  the  six 
guns  were  safely  retired,  when  we  fell  back  through  the  woods  in 
rear  of  Brannan's  division  [which,  late  in  the  day,  was  transferred 
from  its  original  position  on  the  extreme  left  to  the  support  of 
Reynolds].  We  came  out  on  the  Rossville  road  at  a  point  where 
Cushing's  battery  was  stationed,  and  from  there  reported  to  you 


460  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

and  rejoined  the  brigade.  Our  loss  in  this  fight  was  heavy. 
Colonel  Anderson  was  struck  by  a  musket-ball  in  the  shoulder 
and  severely  wounded.  Captain  Tinker  fell  mortally  wounded,* 
and  Captain  Montagnier  was  shot  through  both  legs.  Lieutenant 
Holmes  was  missed  here,  and  I  fear  is  either  dead,  or  wounded 
and  a  prisoner.-)-  The  behavior  of  all  these  officers  was  above  all 
praise.  Night  having  now  fallen,  and  the  fight  ceased,  Colonel 
Anderson,  for  the  first  time,  retired  to  have  his  wound  dressed, 
when  it  was  found  to  be  of  such  a  nature  as  to  preclude  the  pos 
sibility  of  his  remaining  longer  on  the  field,  and  he  was  sent  to 
the  rear,  the  command  of  the  regiment  then  devolving  upon  me. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  we  were  employed,  under 
your  direction,  in  constructing  defenses  on  an  eminence  east  of 
the  Rossville  road,  and  nearly  parallel  with  the  latter  in  an  open 
wood.  These  were  nearly  completed,  when  they  were  occupied 
by  other  troops  (whose  I  do  not  know),  and  we  were  retired  and 
placed  in  reserve.  The  brigade  being  in  two  lines,  my  regiment 
was  in  the  second  line,  formed  in  double  column  at  full  distance, 
on  the  right  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  which  was  formed  in 
like  manner,  and  in  rear  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  deployed 
in  line  of  battle.  "We  rested  here  about  half  an  hour,  when  we 
were  moved  to  the  left  and  formed  at  nearly  right  angles  with  our 
former  position,  and  facing  a  little  east  of  north  in  a  corn-field 
just  east  of  the  Rossville  road.  We  were  on  the  extreme  left  of 
the  brigade,  with  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  on  our  right.  The 

*  Captain  Tinker  was  shot  through  both  legs,  near  the  knees,  and,  in 
terrible  suffering,  was  removed  to  the  field  hospital  of  the  division,  which 
the  shifting  of  the  lines  next  morning  made  it  necessary  to  abandon. 
He  was  left  in  a  dying  condition,  as  was  supposed  (with  not  more  than 
twenty  minutes  to  live,  the  surgeon  said) ;  but  about  ten  days  afterward, 
as  we  shall  see,  was  brought  back  to  the  Union  lines,  a  paroled  prisoner. 
His  old  comrades  greeted  him  almost  as  one  risen  from  the  dead. 

•}•  Lieutenant  Holmes,  after  conspicuous  gallantry,  was  surrounded  and 
captured,  and  sent  to  Richmond. 


CHICKAMAUGA.  461 

enemy,  attempting  to  turn  our  left,  were  delivering  a  sharp  fire 
in  front  of  our  position,  when  our  batteries  in  the  field  opened 
upon  them  (as  I  now  suppose,  though  at  the  time  I  thought  they 
mistook  my  regiment  for  rebels),  but,  firing  too  low,  killed  and 
wounded  numbers  of  my  men  and  officers — among  them  Captain 
Bense,  senior  captain  and  acting  major,  and  Lieutenant  Cormany. 
It  was  a  trying  position — the  enemy's  fire  in  front  and  our  own 
from  the  rear,  and  more  danger  in  retiring  than  remaining. 

At  length  the  firing  of  the  battery  ceased,  and  I  moved  my 
regiment  by  the  right  flank  to  a  little  hollow,  near  which  we  re 
formed,  and  were  then  placed  on  the  right  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio,  and  between  that  regiment  and  the  Regular  brigade,  my 
left  a  little  retired  from  the  direction  of  my  former  line,  and  a 
portion  of  my  front  covered  by  one  of  the  regiments  of  our  own 
brigade.  We  here  met  the  full  force  of  the  enemy's  advancing 
columns,  and  were  forced  back  in  some  confusion,  but  rallied  and 
drove  the  enemy.  The  pursuit  was  broken  and  irregular  on  the 
part  of  all  our  troops,  who  inflicted  severe  punishment  on  the 
flying  rebels.  My  regiment  became  divided,  and,  in  returning,  a 
portion  of  it,  with  some  of  my  officers,  got  to  the  west  side  of  the 
Rossville  road,  and  for  some  time  were  separated  from  me.  On 
our  return  from  the  pursuit,  I  reformed  on  the  right  of  a  portion 
of  the  Sixteenth  Regulars,  at  the  breastwork  to  the  right  of  my 
last  position.  Here  was  also  a  portion  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illi 
nois,  under  one  of  its  captains,  and  a  few  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio,  with  Lieutenant  Kise  and  the  colors  of  their  regiment. 
We  remained  there  until  the  brigade  was  reformed  under  your 
direction,  and  moved  to  the  right  in  support  of  Reynolds'  troops; 
and  although  under  fire,  more  or  less,  all  the  time  until  retired 
from  the  field,  we  were  not  again  actively  engaged.  We  retired 
in  good  order,  under  a  heavy  cross-fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery 
(losing  but  one  man,  however),  and  encamped  with  the  brigade  at 
Rossville. 

With  a  single  exception,  the  behavior   of  my  officers  was  all 


462  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

that  could  be  desired.  I  would  especially  mention  Captain  Bense, 
acting  major,  Captains  Thatcher  and  Russell,  and  Lieutenants 
Irwio,  Choate,  and  Glisan,  whose  gallantry  was  conspicuous. 
Among  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  examples  of 
gallant  conduct  were  very  numerous,  but  limited  space  forbids 
their  mention  except  in  general  terms.  During  the  whole  of  the 
two  days'  fighting  the  men  suffered  severely  from  the  want  of 
water.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  report  my  regiment  in  fine  con 
dition  and  good  spirits.  I  annex  herewith  a  statement  in  detail 
of  the  casualties  in  my  command. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

S.  C.  ERWIN, 
Major  Sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Commanding  Regiment 


AN    OFFICER'S    LETTER. 

CAMP  AT  CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  November  6,  1863. 
MY  DEAR  FATHER:  ....  Now  for  a  description  of  our 
part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  On  the  18th  of  September 
our  regiment  had  a  severe  skirmish  with  the  enemy  near  Crawfish 
Springs,  losing  one  man  killed  and  another  wounded,  but  holding 
our  ground  until  reinforcements  came  up.  About  twelve  o'clock 
that  night  we  started  and  marched  until  morning,  when  we  reached 
a  position  to  the  left  of  Wood's  division  on  the  Chickamauga. 
Here  we  made  coffee  and  got  a  few  minutes'  rest,  after  which  our 
brigade  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  which  was  doue,  but 
without  finding  the  rebels  in  force  very  near  us.  About  9  A.  M. 
we  came  across  Baird's  division,  and  were  about  to  return  when 
a  heavy  musketry  fire  was  opened  in  the  direction  of  his  advanced 
brigade  [then  attacking  and  driving  a  detachment  of  the  enemy 
which  had  crossed  the  Chickamauga  a  short  distance  above  Reid's 
bridge].  Our  brigade  was  formed  in  line,  ready  to  assist  him  if 
necessary ;  but  the  firing  subsiding,  we  retraced  our  steps  toward  our 
own  division.  On  our  way  back  we  met  great  numbers  of  Thomas' 


CHICKAMAUGA.  463 

troops  going  to  the  left,  and  wondered  what  it  meant.  We  had 
scarcely  retaken  our  places  with  the  division,  when  we  were  or 
dered  back  to  the  left.  Our  brigade  was  formed  in  two  lines — 
our  right  resting  on  Reynolds'  division,  and  our  left  on  Cruft's 
brigade;  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  form 
ing  the  first  line,  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky  and  Eighty-fourth 
Illinois  the  second,  and  our  regiment  as  reserve  behind  the 
battery. 

The  first  line  had  been  engaged  but  a  few  minutes,  when  the 
rebels  began  flanking  us  on  the  right,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio,  with 
the  battery,  was  ordered  to  extend  the  front  line  in  that  direc 
tion.  As  soon  as  we  were  formed,  as  indicated,  (with  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  on  our  left  and  the  battery  upon  our  right),  the 
rebels  made  their  appearance,  advancing  against  us  in  two  columns. 
The  battery  promptly  opened  with  canister;  at  the  same  time  our 
regiment  met  them  with  such  deadly  volleys  that  they  were  soon 
driven  from  the  field.  They  returned,  but  with  no  better  success 
than  before.  The  regiment  remained  some  time  after  all  its  am 
munition  was  expended,  and,  on  being  relieved  by  another  one, 
was  complimented  by  General  Palmer  for  its  gallantry  and  stead 
iness.  By  him  we  were  ordered  to  a  position  in  the  rear  of  the 
Nineteenth  Indiana  Battery,  where  we  could  get  ammunition,  and, 
having  refilled  our  cartridge-boxes,  were  again  ready  for  action. 

General  Reynolds  was  at  the  battery,  and,  as  Colonel  Anderson 
moved  our  regiment  to  re-occupy  its  original  position,  he  asked 
the  colonel  to  remain  and  support  it,  but  Anderson  replied  that 
his  orders  required  him  to  report  again  to  General  Palmer,  and  we 
kept  on.  Reynolds  said  he  feared  he  would  lose  the  battery,  as 
it  was  entirely  unsupported,  and  all  his  own  regiments  were  in 
action.  We  had  just  entered  the  woods  on  our  way  back  to  the 
first  line,  when  we  saw  our  troops  giving  way;  and  one  of  Rey 
nolds'  aids  just  then  galloping  up  to  the  colonel,  and  begging  him 
to  come  and  save  the  battery,  the  regiment  was  about  faced,  and 
double-quicked  back.  Before  we  got  fairly  into  position,  the  bat- 


464  i  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

tery  became  engaged,  and  I  saw  the  rebels  advancing  upon  it,  in 
four  columns.  The  men  at  the  guns  worked  well,  but  fired  some 
what  too  high.  I  watched  the  cannoneers  and  horses  fall,  picked 
off  one  by  one  by  the  unerring  shots  of  rebel  sharpshooters,  and 
saw  that,  as  the  regiments  on  our  right  were  broken,  there  was 
nothing  to  prevent  us  from  being  flanked.  The  last  round  of  shot 
was  fired,  and  we  heard  the  command,  "  Limber  to  the  front !  " 
but  still  we  lay  there,  determined  to  save  those  guns.  The  rebels 
had  nearly  surrounded  us,  but  the  battery — all  except  one  piece — 
was  safely  retreating,  when  we  received  the  order  to  raise  and  fire. 
We  did  so,  and  checked  the  charging  enemy  for  a  short  minute, 
and  then  "changed  front  to  the  rear  on  tenth  company,"  and  fired 
a  volley  in  that  direction.  We  were  now  flanked  on  both  sides, 
while  the  rebels  were  bearing  down  upon  us  in  front.  Things  looked 
desperate,  and  I  began  to  think  of  Libby.  Reynolds,  who  still 
remained  with  us,  had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  and  at  last  or 
dered  us  to  retreat  double-quick. 

As  soon  as  we  got  out  of  this  box,  we  reformed  behind  a  rail 
fence,  and  soon  afterward  were  joined  by  the  Ninth  Indiana,  a 
splendid  fighting  regiment,  from  our  own  division.  Reynolds  then 
ordered  us  forward,  and  forward  we  went  in  fine  style,  assisted  by 
the  Ninth  Indiana.  Our  advance  was  short,  however,  for  we  no 
sooner  cleared  a  little  stretch  of  woodland  than  we  were  met  by  a 
most  murderous  fire  from  both  flank  and  front,  and  were  obliged 
to  fall  back  in  some  confusion.  Rallying,  however,  as  soon  as  we 
could,  we  fell  back  slowly,  firing  at  every  step.  Here  our  loss  was 
heavy — many  privates  killed  and  wounded,  Colonel  Anderson,  Cap 
tain  Tinker  (my  captain),  and  Captain  Montagnier  wounded,  and 
Lieutenant  Holmes  captured.  It  was  now  nearly  dark.  We  were 
relieved  by  Jeff.  C.  Davis'  division  (which  had  arrived  not  long 
before),  received  General  Reynolds'  thanks  for  what  we  had  done,* 

*In  a  private  manuscript,  General  Reynolds  says:  "During  the  first 
day  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  I  met  the  Sixth  Ohio  retiring  in  some 
disorder  from  an  overwhelming  force  of  rebels.  Colonel  Anderson,  al- 


CHICKAMAUGA.  465 

f 

and  by  his  orders  then  reported  to  our  own  division,  which  we 
found  badly  used  up.  How  we  suffered  that  night  no  one  knows. 
Water  could  not  be  found ;  the  rebels  had  possession  of  the  Chick- 
amauga,  and  we  had  to  do  without.  Few  of  us  had  blankets,  and 
the  night  was  very  cold.  All  looked  with  anxiety  for  the  coming 
of  dawn;  for  although  we  had  given  the  enemy  a  rough  handling, 
he  had  certainly  used  us  very  hard. 

At  last  morning  came,  and  found  us  all  standing  to  arms,  ready 
for  whatever  might  happen.  About  six  o'clock,  Rosecrans  made 
his  appearance  riding  along  the  line,  and  looking  worn  and  very 
weary.  "Fight  to-day,"  he  said,  "as  well  as  you  did  yesterday, 
and  we  shall  whip  them!  "  I  did  not  like  the  way  he  looked,  but 
of  course  felt  cheered,  and  did  not  allow  myself  to  think  of  any 
such  thing  as  defeat.  About  half  an  hour  later  our  brigade  was 
moved  a  little  to  the  right  and  front  of  the  position  we  had  occu 
pied  during  the  night,  and  ordered  to  throw  up  log  breastworks 
as  quick  as  possible,  which  we  did,  with  heavy  skirmishing  close 
in  front  and  an  occasional  shell  to  remind  us  of  our  danger.  By 
dint  of  an  hour  and  a  half  of  hard  work,  we  had  succeeded  in 
throwing  up  very  nice  works,  when  we  were  "superseded"  by  an 
other  brigade,  and  ordered  out  into  an  open  field  on  our  left.  Be 
ing  intended  as  a  reserve,  we  formed  on  the  second  line,  but,  alas! 
were  hardly  in  position  before  the  rebels  recommenced  the  attack, 
and  we  were  ordered  still  further  to  the  left,  where  we  formed 
under  a  hot  fire  of  musketry,  in  the  rear  of  the  Eighteenth  Reg- 

though  wounded  in  the  arm,  was  gallantly  rallying  his  regiment,  aided  by 
the  officers  (many  of  whom  I  can  not  personally  recollect,  but  conspicuous 
among  them  was  Major  Erwin,  who  was  subsequently  killed  at  Mission 
Ridge.)  The  officers  and  men  recognized  me  at  once.  I  had  seen  them 
slowly  retiring  from  the  woods  on  my  front,  and,  not  knowing  what 
troops  they  were,  had  already  chosen  a  rallying  point  for  them  near  my 
batteries.  The  position  was  pointed  out,  and  they  reformed  with  great 
promptness,  and,  resuming  offensive  operations,  manfully  performed  their- 
part  in  that  memorable  battle  throughout  this  and  the  following  day." 
30 


466  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

ulars.  The  rebels  came  on  in  four  columns,  in  splendid  style, 
though  our  artillery  was  doing  terrible  execution  upon  them.  But 
as  one  gray  line  would  go  down,  another  would  be  thrown  forward 
in  its  place,  so  that,  notwithstanding  they  fought  well,  the  Regu 
lars  were  overpowered.  Our  brigade  was  then  ordered  to  advance, 
and,  simultaneously,  a  battery  of  24-pound  Napoleons  got  a  cross 
fire  on  the  rebels,  and  poured  such  a  storm  of  canister  into  their 
ranks  that  they  had  to  fall  back,  badly  cut  up. 

Our  brigade  was  again  moved,  and  formed  a  little  to  the  right 
of  a  wooded  hill  (somewhat  in  advance  of  it)  with  the  road  be 
tween  us  and  it.  There  were  woods  on  most  of  our  front,  and 
through  them  the  Eightyi-fourth  Illinois  was  deployed  in  line  of 
battle ;  their  right  connecting  with  the  line  formed  by  the  Eight 
eenth  Regulars  and  Cruft's  and  Hazen's  brigades,  which  line  was 
almost  at  right  angles  with  ours.  Being  the  left  of  the  regiment, 
my  company  was  placed  at  the  road.  I  walked  forward  a  little, 
to  reconnoiter  our  surroundings,  and  to  my  astonishment  saw  the 
rebels  forming  scarcely  two  hundred  yards  from  us,  on  our  imme 
diate  front.  I  counted  four  columns  of  them,  and  saw  two  gen 
erals  riding  along  the  lines  encouraging  the  men.  I  immediately 
returned,  found  our  brigade  commander,  and  reported  the  condition 
of  affairs;  but  he  said  they  were  our  troops,  and  I  could  not  con 
vince  him  to  the  contrary;  he  said  they  must  be  our  troops,  be 
cause  there  was  at  least  one  line  ahead  of  ours.  I  went  back  to 
my  company  and  detailed  two  men — splendid  shots,  both  of  them — 
to  go  forward,  and,  if  possible,  pick  off  the  officers  that  I  had  seen 
riding  up  and  down  the  rebel  lines.  About  ten  minutes  afterward, 
Colonel  Grose  ordered  two  of  Lieutenant  Cushing's  guns  to  the 
road  (on  the  left  of  our  regiment),  and  the  rebels  opening  a  battery 
upon  us  simultaneously,  the  firing  became  brisk.  Another  battery 
to  the  rear  of  our  line  got  excited,  and  began  playing  upon  us  with 
canister,  apparently  mistaking  us  for  the  enemy.  We  were  thus 
under  a  heavy  fire  from  both  the  front  and  rear,  and  naturally 
hugged  Mother  Earth  very  closely.  This  was  the  hottest  place 


CHICKAMAUGA.  467 

your  humble  servant  was  ever  in.  The  battery  continued  to  play 
on  us,  notwithstanding  our  color-bearers  bravely  rose  up  and 
waved  our  flags  to  show  the  artillerists  who  we  were ;  and  it  was 
not  until  Major  Erwiu  sent  back  one  of  the  men  upon  his  horse 
that  the  firing  ceased.  During  this  cannonading  we  lost'a  num 
ber  of  men  and  officers,  including  Captain  Bense  and  Lieutenant 
Cormany  wounded.  Our  regiment  was  much  demoralized  by  this  ; 
they  said  they  could  stand  the  rebel  fire,  but  when  it  came  to  being 
shot  by  our  own  men,  it  was  played  out. 

After  this  we  were  again  moved,  this  time  nearer  the  breast 
works,  and  another  regiment  took  our  place.  It  was  now  about 
half  an  hour  since  I  had  seen  the  rebels  forming  on  our  front, 
and  I  expected  every  minute  to  see  them  come  on  a  charge 
through  the  woods ;  and  as  we  got  into  position,  sure  enough 
they  began  the  advance,  coming  up  furiously,  four  lines  deep. 
The  regulars  were  driven  back  pell-mell,  and  we  waited  for  the 
troops  said  to  be  in  front  of  us  to  fall  back,  but  in  vain — there 
were  none  there.  Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  we  heard  a  heavy  body 
of  troops  come  marching  through  the  underbrush  and  leaves,  but 
nothing  could  be  seen,  until  suddenly  a  gray  line  burst  into  view, 
and,  before  we  were  aware  of  it,  fired  into  us  a  terrific  volley. 
Fortunately  we  were  lying  down  at  the  time,  so  that  few  were 
hurt.  Then  began  the  game  in  real  earnest,  the  two  lines 
scarcely  fifty  yards  apart,  and  each  firing  as  fast  as  possible.  But 
how  long  could  our  single  weak  line  stand  against  four  solid  columns? 
We  were  compelled  to  fall  back,  and  did  so  in  some  confusion. 

It  was  now  after  twelve  o'clock.  In  falling  back,  my  company  be 
came  separated  from  the  others,  but  as  soon  as  we  were  out  of  range, 
I  formed  what  I  had  left,  and  started  to  find  the  regiment.  It  was 
like  looking  for  a  needle  in  a  hay-stack — nothing  was  known  of  it. 
However,  I  found  Colonel  Waters,  who  had  been  cut  off  from  the 
brigade  with  a  fragment  of  his  regiment,  and  reported  to  him, 
forming  my  company  on  the  left  of  his  detachment,  which  com 
prised  about  fifty  men.  [See  the  official  report  of  Colonel  Grose.] 


468  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Colonel  Waters  formed  with  a  brigade  which  had  not  yet  been 
engaged ;  the  rebels  were  still  driving  our  men,  and  in  a  short  time 
we  were  again  in  action.  We  fought  for  a  few  minutes,  and,  as 
yet,  were  holding  our  own,  when  up  came  a  brigade  of  the  Reserve 
Corps  and  relieved  us,  whereupon  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back,  and 
soon  joined  the  retreating  columns  of  what  seemed  to  be  our  whole 
army.  By  this  time  it  was  nearly  four  o'clock.  We  had  not  eaten 
any  thing  since  early  in  the  morning,  and  had  been  without  water 
all  day.  The  rebels  drew  off  about  the  same  time  that  we  did.  If 
this  Sunday  evening  we  had  only  had  two  divisions  of  fresh  troops, 
what  a  splendid  victory  would  have  been  won ! 

"Oh,  that  we  now  had  here 

But  one  ten  thousand  of  those  inen  in  England 

That  do  not  work  to-day !" 

We  retired  to  Rossville  that  night,  where  I  rejoined  what  was 
left  of  the  regiment — about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men — and,  with 
the  army,  remained  in  line  of  battle  on  Mission  Ridge  all  next 
day,  and  on  Monday  night  fell  back  within  our  lines  at  Chatta 
nooga Among  those  who  fought  with  great  gal 
lantry,  I  noticed  several  negroes  belonging  to  various  regiments  of 
our  brigade,  who  were  at  the  front  continually.  On  Saturday  I 
captured  two  rebels  who  were  reeling  drunk.  In  fact,  I  believe  all 

the  rebels   had  whisky  in   their  canteens I  have 

given  you  a  rather  crudely-digested  description  of  the  battle,  I 
know ;  but  we  are  so  very  busy  that  I  have  to  write  at  nights, 
and  piecemeal  at  that.  Please  excuse  mistakes. 


COLONEL  GROSE'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  THIRD  BRIGADE,  SECOND  DIVISION,  TWENTY-FIRST  ) 
ARMY  CORPS,  IN  CAMP  AT  CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Sept.  27,  1863.  ) 

Major-General  J.  M.  Palmer,  Commanding  Second  Division — 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report  of  the  part 
this  brigade  took  in  the  recent  engagements  with  the  enemy.     I 


CHICKAMAUGA.  469 

crossed  the  Tennessee  River  at  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek  on  the 
night  of  the  3d  of  September,  by  means  of  log-rafts,  sending  most 
of  my  train  by  the  way  of  Bridgeport,  six  miles  below,  to  cross  on 
the  bridge.  I  passed  over  without  loss  of  either  men  or  property. 
My  command  consisted  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  Colonel  N.  L.  Anderson; 
IJighty-fourth  Illinois,  Colonel  L.  H.  Waters  ;  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
Colonel  D.  J.  Higgins;  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
0.  H.  P.  Carey  ;  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Jas. 
C.  Foy — aggregate  of  officers  and  men,  including  staff,  one  thou 
sand  six  hundred  and  eighty-seven.  To  the  above  were  attached 
Batteries  H  and  M,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  commanded 
by  Lieutenants  Gushing  and  Russell  (ten  pieces).  In  conjunction 
with  the  division  we  marched  to  Shell  Mound,  thence  to  Squirrel 
Town  Creek,  and  thence  to  Lookout  Valley.  On  the  morning  of 
the  9th  inst.,  with  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Twenty-third  Ken 
tucky,  and  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  I  ascended,  or  rather  climbed  up, 
Lookout  Mountain,  near  Hawkins'  farm,  nine  miles  to  the  right 
of  Chattanooga,  and  met  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  mountain 
without  sustaining  any  loss.  The  enemy  left  the  mountain  by  a 
north-east  course,  via  Summertown.  Cavalry  was  all  that  I  found 
on  the  summit.  As  I  reached  the  point  of  the  mountain  over 
looking  Chattanooga,  the  remainder  of  my  brigade,  with  the  First 
Brigade,  General  Cruft,  and  General  Wood's  division,  were  enter 
ing  the  city.  I  may  here  notice  Captain  Isaac  N.  Dryden  and  his 
company,  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  for  daring  bravery  in  the 
advance,  in  ascending  the  mountain  and  driving  and  punishing  the 
enemy.  Subsequently  the  brigade  had  light  but  successful  skir 
mishing  near  Graysville  and  Ringgold,  and  on  Chickamauga 
Creek,  and  also  made  a  reconnoissance  from  the  latter  to  Worthen's 
farm  at  a  pass  in  Pigeon  Mountain. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  inst.,  I  was  directed  to  make  a 
reconnoissance  below  Lee  &  Gordon's  Mill,  on  Chickamauga  Creek, 
which  I  did,  and  found  the  enemy  in  force ;  and,  on  receiving 
your  orders,  afterward  withdrew  the  brigade,  joined  the  column, 


470  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

and  with  it  advanced  upon  the  enemy,  moving  into  an  open  wood 
land  to  the  right  of  the  road  leading  toward  Chattanooga.  My 
position  happened  to  be  on  a  small  elevation,  with  General  Cruft's 
brigade  on  my  left  and  General  Reynolds'  division  on  my  right. 
We  met  the  enemy's  lines  about  eleven  o'clock.  My  brigade  was 
formed  in  double  lines — the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Colonel  Higgins, 
and  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Foy,  in  the 
front  line ;  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Carey, 
and  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  Colonel  Waters,  in  the  rear  line ; 
and  the  Sixth  Ohio,  Colonel  Anderson,  in  reserve.  Very  soon 
after  my  front  line  met  the  enemy,  the  troops  on  the  right  of  my 
brigade  gave  way,  upon  which  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  was  im 
mediately  changed  to  the  right  to  defend  that  flank.  In  a  very 
few  minutes  the  enemy  passed  so  far  around  my  right  toward  the 
rear  that  the  Sixth  Ohio,  as  well  as  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana, 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  were  all  des 
perately  engaged,  and  so  continued  for  two  long  hours.  Here  oc 
curred  the  best  fighting  and  least  falling  out  of  ranks  (excepting 
the  killed  and  wounded)  that  I  ever  witnessed.  The  ammunition 
of  these  four  regiments  finally  gave  out,  and  there  being  none  at 
hand  (bad  luck !)  they  had  to  be  retired.  Now  was  the  time  for 
the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois  to  come  into  the  breach.  The  colonel 
changed  front  to  the  right,  and  with  his  brave  regiment  contested 
every  inch  of  ground  until  compelled  to  give  way  before  over 
whelming  numbers.  The  enemy  having  reached  what  was  then  his 
right  flank — formerly  our  rear — all  were  retired  in  tolerably  good 
order,  which  ended  my  fighting  for  the  day.  General  Cruft's 
brigade,  which  had  not  yet  exhausted  its  ammunition  nor  been 
seriously  engaged,  now  changed  front  to  the  enemy,  engaged  him, 
and  came  off  masters  of  that  part  of  the  field. 

The  ensuing  night  we  laid  upon  our  arms  without  water  or  rest, 
and,  though  the  fatigues  had  been  great,  yet  there  was  more  to 
endure  upon  the  coming  day.  Ammunition  replenished,  we  were 
again  in  position  for  the  fearful  labors  that  awaited  us  on  the  Holy 


CHICK  AMAUGA.  471 

Sabbath,  early  on  which  day  I  was  ordered  to  take  position  on  the 
right  of  General  Hazen's  brigade,  on  the  right  of  our  division, 
which  was  done,  and  each  regiment  quickly  threw  before  it  bar 
ricades  of  logs,  and  such  material  as  could  readily  be  obtained. 
Before  the  action  on  our  part  of  the  line  commenced,  however,  one 
of  my  regiments,  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  had  been  loaned  to 
General  Hazen  to  fill  out  his  lines,  and  with  the  other  four,  at 
about  nine  o'clock,  I  was  ordered  to  the  left  of  General  Baird's 
division  to  strengthen  that  flank.  Before  we  reached  the  intended 
position  in  the  line,  the  enemy  came  upon  General  Baird's  division, 
and  consequently  upon  my  command,  in  fearful  numbers.  I 
formed  the  four  regiments,  under  a  destructive  fire  from  the 
enemy,  in  a  woodland  fronting  the  north,  and  at  right  angles  with 
the  main  line  of  battle — the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  and  Eighty- 
fourth  Illinois  in  the  front  line,  and  the  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio  in  the  second  line.  Thus  formed  we  met  the  enemy,  and  had 
a  desperate  struggle,  with  fearful  loss  to  both  sides.  The  brigade 
advanced  and  was  repulsed,  advanced  a  second  time  and  was  again 
repulsed,  and,  with  some  forces  that  now  came  to  our  assistance, 
advanced  the  third  time  and  held  the  woodland.  In  this  contest 
for  mastery  over  the  woodland  fell  many  of  my  best  and  bravest 
officers  and  men — the  dead  and  dying  of  both  armies,  mingled  to 
gether  over  this  bloody  field.  Here  I  parted  with  many  of  my 
comrades  in  arms  forever  (particularly  old  mess-mates  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  Indiana),  whose  remains  I  was  unable  to  remove  from 
the  field.  In  the  conflict  and  amid  the  shifting  scenes  of  battle, 
Colonel  Waters,  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  with  a  part  of  his 
regiment,  became  detached  from  the  brigade,  and  on  the  west  of 
the  road  became  intermingled  with  the  division  of  General  Negley, 
who,  it  seems,  shortly  after  ordered  that  portion  of  Colonel 
Waters'  regiment,  with  at  least  a  portion  of  his  own  command, 
toward  Chattanooga,  on  the  pretext  of  sending  that  of  Colonel 
Waters  as  train-guard,  for  particulars  of  which  reference  is  made 
to  the  report  of  Colonel  Waters.  The  residue  of  the  Eighty-fourth 


472  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Illinois  regiment,  under  command  of  Captain  Ervin,  of  Company 
C,  with  Lieutenants  McLain,  Scoggan,  and  Logue,  with  parts  of 
four  companies,  remained  with  the  brigade,  and  forming  on  the  left 
of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  did  efficient  and  good  service.  Cap 
tain  Ervin  deserves  notice  for  coolness  and  bravery  during  this 
fight,  as  also  do  the  lieutenants  above-named. 

After  the  fighting  had  ceased,  and  with  seeming  success  to  our 
arms  on  this  portion  of  the  line,  at  about  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  I 
withdrew  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  Sixth  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
with  that  portion  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  under  command  of 
Captain  Ervin,  to  near  the  position  we  had  taken  in  the  forenoon, 
Dear  the  right  of  General  Hazen's  brigade,  and  put  my  men  in 
position  to  rest,  and  to  await  further  developments.  The  Twenty- 
third  Kentucky  had  remained  with  General  Hazen,  at  that  point, 
where  I  had  left  it  in  the  morning.  The  enemy's  sharpshooters 
and  occasional  cannonading  meantime  kept  up  amusement  for  us. 
It  was  here,  near  by  me,  that  Colonel  King,  of  the  Sixty-eighth 
Indiana,  fell  a  victim  to  the  aim  of  a  sharpshooter.  In  these  two 
days  my  command  took  a  considerable  number  of  prisoners,  and 
sent  them  to  the  rear.  Among  them  was  Captain  E.  B.  Sayers, 
Chief  Engineer  of  General  Folk's  corps,  who  surrendered  to  me  in 
person,  was  put  in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Scott,  my  Engineer,  and 
sent  back  to  General  Thomas'  corps  hospital.  Sayers  was  one  of 
the  Camp  Jackson  prisoners,  and  formerly  a  citizen  of  St.  Louis. 
I  presume  that  many  of  the  prisoners  taken  on  Sunday  escaped. 

About  four  o'clock  a  rebel  deserter  came  in  and  informed  us 
that  Breckinridge's  division  was  advancing  toward  the  point  where 
we  had  been  in  such  deadly  strife  during  the  forepart  of  the  day ; 
which  statement  was  soon  verified  by  the  roar  of  artillery  and 
small  arms  in  that  direction,  again  moving  upon  Johnson's  and 
Baird's  shattered  divisions.  About  the  same  time  ^  heavy  force 
of  the  enemy  commenced  an  attack  to  our  right  and  rear  from 
toward  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mill,  and  from  the  direction  we  had 
come  in  the  morning,  and,  opening  the  most  terrific  cannonading 


CHICKAMAUGA.  473 

I  had  heard  during  these  battles,  in  a  few  moments  completely 
enfiladed  our  entire  rear.  At  fifteen  minutes  before  five  o'clock, 
Lieutenant  Thomas,  General  Palmer's  aid,  brought  me  an  order 
to  retire  my  command,  but  which  way  or  where  to  retire  was  not 
an  easy  question  to  solve.  The  enemy  were  fast  approaching  from 
the  right  and  left  toward  our  rear,  their  artillery  fire  meeting  in 
our  ranks.  I  immediately  sent  orders,  however,  to  the  regiments 
with  me  to  retire  across  the  farm  to  our  rear,  passing  to  the  right 
of  the  farm-house,  in  the  following  order:  Sixth  Ohio,  Thirty-sixth 
Indiana,  and  that  portion  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois  with  me,  and 
the  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  to  bring  up  the  rear.  Portions  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio  were  with  each  of  those  regiments.  My  artil 
lery  had  been  retired  to  the  west  of  the  farm.  The  forces  that  were 
to  my  left  when  I  was  thus  faced  about,  had  to  retire  further  to  my 
right  and  cross  the  farm  further  north.  When  I  commenced  the 
movement,  it  seemed  evident  that  my  small  command  would  be 
swept  away  by  the  artillery  fire  of  the  enemy.  To  prevent  break 
ing  of  ranks,  or  any  further  panic,  and  to  indicate  to  the  men  that 
this  was  a  time  for  coolness  and  "  steady  habits  " — with  Lieuten 
ant  P>oice,  one  of  my  aids-de-camp,  who  carried  the  brigade  flag 
at  my  side — I  rode  on  the  left  of  the  front  regiment,  and  on  the 
side  from  which  the  enemy's  severest  fire  emanated,  until  we  passed 
the  ordeal  of  danger.  As  soon  as  we  were  beyond  the  point  of 
greatest  danger,  I  halted  the  two  front  regiments,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  and  into  line  faced  them  to  the  rear,  to 
defend  and  cover  the  retreat.  This  was  done  coolly  and  deliber 
ately.  General  Palmer  was  here  to  consult  with  me  and  give 
directions.  Here  was  the  last  I  saw  of  Captain  J.  R.  Muhleman, 
assistant  adjutant-general  of  the  division,  and  I  presume  he  fell 
near  this  place,  for  we  were  yet  under  a  sharp  fire.  As  soon  as  all 
were  closed  up,  and  had  passed  this  line,  I  retired  the  force  about 
one-half  a  mile,  across  another  farm,  ascended  a  high  wooded  hill, 
and  reformed  faced  as  before,  but  out  of  the  range  of  the  enemy's 
fire.  It  was  now  dusk.  Meeting  General  Cruft  with  his  brigade 


474  THE  STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

here,  we  consulted  together  with  the  division  commander,  and  re 
tired  to  Rossville,  about  four  or  five  miles  distant,  on  the  Chatta 
nooga  road,  and  there  rested  for  the  night.  It  is  due  that  I  men 
tion  in  this  place  an  act  of  great  bravery  performed  by  my  aid, 
Lieutenant  Boice.  After  we  had  passed  over  the  first  farm,  fear 
ing  that  my  orders  to  Captain  Ervin,  of  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois, 
had  not  been  definitely  understood,  and  that  he  with  his  command 
might  be  left  behind  and  lost,  I  directed  Lieutenant  Boice  to  re 
turn  again  over  the  field  of  death  and  see  that  the  captain  was 
coming  with  his  command.  The  direction  was  promptly  obeyed, 
and  the  lieutenant  made  the  trip  and  returned  unharmed.  My 
fears  for  his  safety  were  inexpressibly  relieved  when  I  saw  him 
return.  For  this  and  similar  efficient  service,  during  all  these 
battles,  Lieutenant  Boice  deserves  the  most  favorable  notice.  In 
the  position  assigned  me,  with  my  command,  on  the  21st,  at  and 
near  Kossville,  although  I  did  no  fighting  and  a  better  situation 
could  have  not  been  given  me,  I  lost  one  man  killed  and  one 
wounded  from  the  enemy's  artillery.  From  thence  we  withdrew  to 
our  present  position  without  further  harm. 

Lieutenant  Russell,  in  command  of  Company  M,  Fourth  United 
States  Artillery,  on  Saturday,  the  19th,  was  placed  in  position  iu 
the  center  of  my  front  line,  and  did  effective  work.  On  Sunday 
he,  as  well  as  Lieutenant  Cushing,  commanding  Company  H, 
Fourth  United  States  Artillery,  played  a  heavy  part  on  the 
enemy's  columns.  Although  they  look  like  mere  boys,  yet,  for 
bravery  and  effective  service,  these  lieutenants  are  not  excelled,  if 
equaled,  in  efficiency  by  any  artillerists  in  the  army.  They  have 
the  credit  of  being  in  the  last  of  the  fighting,  and  then  retiring 
all  with  the  loss  of  but  one  piece  (Lieutenant  Cushing's)  that  had 
become  disabled.  Colonel  Waters  and  his  brave  regiment  deserve 
great  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  the  one  commanded,  and  the 
other  performed,  the  perilous  duties  devolving  upon  them  during 
the  battle. 

The  brave  Colonel  Nick  Anderson,  with  his  regiment,  the  Sixth 


CHICKAMAUGA.  475 

Ohio,  performed  an  officer's  whole  duty  up  to  the  evening  of  the 
19th,  when,  having  been  severely  wounded  during  that  day,  ho 
was  compelled  to  be  relieved.  The  command  of  that  regiment 
thereupon  devolved  upon  Major  Erwin,  who  discharged  his  duties 
in  a  highly  satisfactory  manner  throughout.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Carey,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana,  brave  to  the  last,  received  a  severe 
wound  during  the  battle  on  the  19th,  and  was  succeeded  in  com 
mand  by  Major  Trusler,  who  deserves  a  high  meed  of  praise  for 
continuing  the  good  management  of  the  regiment.  The  country 
will  remember  the  brave  old  Thirty-sixth  when  these  trying  times 
are  over.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Foy  and  the  Twenty-third  Ken 
tucky,  side  by  side  with  their  comrades  and  brothers  in  arms 
from  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  did  their  duty  well.  '  Colonel 
Higgins*  and-  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  can  boast  of  as  brave  and 
dutiful  officers  and  men  as  can  be  found  in  any  army.  Captain 
George  M.  Graves,  my  assistant  adjutant-general,  a  brave  and  good 
officer,  fell  by  my  side,  mortally  wounded,  on  the  19th,  while  ren 
dering  efficient  service,  and  has  since  died.  Isaac  Bigelow  and 
George  Shirk,  two  of  my  orderlies,  were  wounded  on  the  20th, 
the  latter  mortally.  He  was  carrying  the  brigade  flag  when  he 
fell.  Corporal  Dossey  Lennin,  of  Company  I,  Twenty-fourth 
Ohio,  seeing  the  flag  fall,  rushed  to  rescue  it,  and  bore  it  off  of 
the  field,  as  he  did  his  own  regimental  colors  on  two  occasions  the 
day  before.  Such  bravery  and  high  bearing  as  this  is  highly  de 
serving  the  notice  of  the  appointing  power.  My  grateful  thanks 
are  due  to  the  brave  officers  and  men  of  the  brigade  for  their  noble 
conduct  throughout  these  trying  scenes. 

My  staff  officers,  Captain  Brooks,  inspector ;  Lieutenant  Scott, 
topographical  engineer ;  Lieutenant  Livzey,  aid-de-camp  ;  Major 
Kersey,  medical  director ;  Captain  Peden,  provost  marshal,  to 
gether  with  those  heretofore  mentioned,  and  also  my  non-com 
missioned  staff,  have  my  grateful  acknowledgements  for  their  kind 

*  "  Colonel  Higgins  and  Major  T.  M.  McClure  were  dismissed  the  ser 
vice  for  bad  conduct  in  this  action  "  [ChickamaugaJ. — Ohio  in  the  War. 


476 


THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


and  efficient  help  during  these  laborious  battles.  Many  officers 
and  men  of  my  command,  whom  it  is  impossible  to  refer  to  spe 
cially,  are  equally  deserving  with  the  best  of  soldiers.  The  pa 
triots,  Captain  Adams,  Eighty-fourth  Illinois ;  Captain  Tinker, 
Sixth  Ohio ;  Captain  Wadsworth,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  ;  Lieutenant 
Patterson,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana ;  Lieutenant  Hoffman,  Twenty- 
third  Kentucky,  with  fifty-seven  enlisted  men,  fell  bravely  on 
those  battle-fields,  sacrifices  upon  their  country's  altar.  My  heart 
bleeds  to  contemplate  these  irreparable  losses.  And  for  the  suf 
fering  wounded,  may  the  God  of  battles  soothe  their  afflictions, 
heal  them  speedily,  and  restore  them  again  to  usefulness ! 

The  following  table  shows  the  casualties  of  the  brigade  as  near 
as  it  is  possible  to  ascertain  them  at  the  present  time : 


i 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

Mis'ing. 

Total. 

& 

Commander. 

Command. 

9 

M 

I 

H 

1 

p 

? 

3 

H 

1 

» 

i 

3 

I 

a 

I 

s 

f 

Col.  Wm.  Grose 
Lt.-Col.  Carey- 

Head-quarters  
36th  Ind.  Vols  

1 
1 

"is 

""8 

3 

89 



ii 

1 

9 

3 

119 

4 

128 

Col.  Higgins  

24th  Ohio  Vols.... 

3 

3 

57 

]6 

3 

76 

79 

Col.  Anderson... 

6th  Ohio  Vols  

i 

13 

7 

94 

1 

16 

9 

123 

132 

Col.  Waters  

84th  111.  Vols  

i 

12 

2 

81 

9 

3 

102 

105 

Lt.-Col.  Foy  

23d  Ky.  Vols  

i 

10 

3 

49 



6 

4 

65 

69 

Lt  Russell 

Bat  M  4th  U  S  A 

9, 

6 

8 

8 

Lt.  Gushing  

Bat.H,4thU.S.A. 

4 

1 

16 

1 

1 

21 

22 

5 

57 

24 

395 

1 

65 

30 

517 

547 

Add  to  this  the  659  lost  at  Stone  River,  with  many  other  cas 
ualties  in  smaller  engagements,  and  it  shows  a  fearful  destruction 
of  human  life  in  one  small  command. 

For  further  and  more  minute  particulars  reference  is  made  to 
the  reports  of  regimental  commanders  herewith  forwarded. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

W.  GROSE, 

Colonel  Commanding  Third  Brigade. 
L.  BOICB,  Lieutenant  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  A.  A,  D.  C. 


CHATTANOOGA   AND   BROWN'S   FERRY.  477 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 
CHATTANOOGA    AND    BROWN'S    FERRY. 

(SEPTEMBER  21-NOVEMBER  19,  1863.) 

BRAGG  had  been  too  severely  handled  to  renew  the  attack 
on  Monday,  September  21st,  although  Rosecrans'  shat 
tered  forces,  under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Thomas, 
lay  all  day  in  line  of  battle  on  Missionary  Ridge,  no  further 
.away  than  Rossville.  He  contented  himself  with  making  a 
cavalry  reconnoissance,  and  sending  forward  a  few  guns  to 
shell  the  Union  lines,  which  they  did  toward  evening,  but 
without  inflicting  any  serious  damage.  Meantime,  Rosecrans 
had  perfected  his  plans  for  fortifying  Chattanooga,  and  thither, 
on  the  night  of  the  21st,  the  whole  army  was  withdrawn,  and 
with  amazing  energy  began  throwing  up  breastworks.  Bragg's 
videttes  promptly  followed,  and  before  night-fall  of  the  22d  the 
rebels  occupied  Missionary  Ridge,  in  full  view  of  the  belea 
guered  troops,  shut  up  in  the  little  dusty  town  below;  but, 
beyond  throwing  a  few  wildly-aimed  shells,  did  not  molest 
them.  It  took  Bragg  some  days  to  pick  up  the  small  arms 
and  other  trophies  scattered  over  the  battle-field,  count  his 
prisoners,  and  magnify  his  victory  in  grandiloquent  dispatches 
to  Richmond — wrangling  fiercely  the  while  with  Polk  and 
Hill  for  not  having  made  it  decisive — then  march  the  bulk 
of  his  armv  to  the  south-eastern  base  of  Missionary  Ridge, 


478  THE   STORY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

near  Mission  Mills  and  Chickamauga  Station,  for  supplies  and 
rest ;  and,  meanwhile,  the  defenses  of  Chattanooga  were  being 
made  impregnable.  He  was  then  urged  to  cross  the  Tennessee 
above  his  fortressed  enemy,  and  march  upon  Nashville,  but 
refused  to  entertain  the  proposition  for  a  moment,  alleging, 
among  other  reasons,  his  lack  of  transportation  and  pontoons, 
and  the  danger  of  having  his  army  cut  in  two  by  a  sudden 
rise  of  the  river.  His  decision  was  undoubtedly  a  wise  one. 

However,  while  afraid  to  attempt  either  to  fight  or  flank 
Rosecrans  out  of  Chattanooga,  Bragg  was  very  sanguine  he 
could  be  starved  out;  and  in  this  idea  was  comprehended  the 
whole  of  the  rebel  commander's  strategy.  Posting  his  right 
upon  the  Tennessee,  four  miles  above  Chattanooga,  he  invested 
the  city  with  a  line  of  camps  extending  along  the  heights 
and  northward-facing  slopes  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  thence 
across  the  narrow  valley  of  Chattanooga  Creek  to  Lookout 
Mountain,  rising  grimly  twenty-two  hundred  feet  above  the 
Tennessee,  and  distant  from  Chattanooga  barely  three  miles. 
His  pickets  pushed  close  up  to  those  of  the  Union  army,  and 
threw  up  a  line  of  earth-works  along  Orchard  Knoll,  and 
another  and  stronger  one  a  mile  further  back,  just  at  the  base 
of  Missionary  Ridge.  The  river  bank,  for  many  miles  below 
the  "  Nose  of  Lookout,"  he  lined  with  watchful  sentinels,  sup 
porting  them  at  several  points  with  some  of  his  best  artillery ; 
and  thus  he  not  only  held  Rosecrans'  single  line  of  railroad 
communication  with  Bridgeport,  and  controlled  perfectly  the 
navigation  of  the  Tennessee,  but  was  even  enabled  to  com- 
•mand  the  wagon- road  cut  into  the  face  of  the  precipitous  rock 
on  the  northern  bank,  where  the  river  at  "the  Narrows" 
rushes  between  gigantic  cliifs,  formed  on  one  side  by  Wal- 
dron's  Ridge,  and  by  spurs  of  the  Raccoon  Mountains  on  the 
other.  Once  a  large  train  belonging  to  Palmer's  division  was 


479 

allowed  to  file  into  view  at  this  point,  when  the  rebels  opened 
fire  upon  it  from  the  opposite  heights,  killed  and  wounded  sev 
eral  of  the  drivers,  and  disabled  scores  of  mules  before  they  could 
be  cut  loose  and  run  past,  leaving  the  wagons  sticking  there,  mid 
way,  as  it  almost  seemed,  between  the  earth  and  heavens.  The 
only  route  now  left  Rosecrans  for  bringing  forward  supplies 
was  one  that  necessitated  sixty  miles  of  wagoning,  over  rough 
mountains  and  bad  roads,  that  soon  became  all  but  impassable. 
This  was  to  cross  the  pontoon  bridge  at  Chattanooga,  climb 
Waldron's  Ridge,  descend  upon  the  other  side  to  Anderson, 
move  down  the  Sequatchie  Valley  to  Jasper,  and  thence  pro 
ceed  to  Stevenson,  the  nearest  accessible  depot  upon  the  rail 
road.  Even  this  route  Bragg  sought  to  render  insecure  by 
cavalry  raids ;  and  about  a  fortnight  after  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  Rosecrans  lost  a  thousand  wagons  and  millions  of 
rations  at  one  fell  swoop  by  Forrest  in  his  rear,  whence,  how 
ever,  the  rebel  trooper  was  finally  driven  with  considerable 
loss.  Famine  was  the  foe,  more  dreaded  than  all  Bragg's 
legions,  which  now  confronted  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
Five  long  and  dreary  weeks  did  the  "  siege  of  Chattanooga  " 
continue,  without  any  sign  of  relief,  so  far  as  the  troops  could 
discover,  each  day  apparently  more  hopeless  than  the  preced 
ing,  and  bringing  them  nearer  the  final  catastrophe.  True, 
Hooker  was  hurried  into  Tennessee  as  soon  as  possible  after 
the  tidings  of  Chickamauga  reached  Washington,  bringing 
with  him  the  splendid  reinforcement  of  eighteen  thousand 
men — Howard's  Eleventh  and  Slocum's  Twelfth  Corps — from 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac ;  but  the  impossibility  of  subsisting 
them  at  Chattanooga  kept  them  far  in  the  rear,  not  a  brigade 
being  nearer  than  Bridgeport.  Sherman,  too,  was  on  the  way 
from  Memphis  with  as  many  more  men,  belonging  to  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee ;  but,  by  Halleck's  order,  he  was  tinkering 


480  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

up  the  railroad  as  he  advanced,  and  making  lamentably  slow 
progress  in  consequence.  Without  a  murmur,  the  brave  men 
cooped  up  in  the  "Hawk's  Nest"*  among  the  mountains 
submitted  to  their  privations,  and  performed  all  the  labors 
imposed  upon  them ;  for  the  American  volunteer,  during  the 
great  rebellion,  was  not  a  machine,  an  unreasoning  instrument 
in  the  hands  of  his  superiors,  but  an  intelligent,  thinking  man, 
and,  above  all,  a  sterling  patriot;  and  every  private  in  the 
ranks  now  realized  the  importance  of  holding  Chattanooga. 

The  Sixth  Ohio's  experience  at  this  time  diifered  in  no  im 
portant  respect  from  that  of  every  other  regiment  in  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  The  leading  events  may  be  briefly  chron 
icled.  For  two  days  after  the  army's  withdrawal  to  Chatta 
nooga,  the  regiment  (now  under  the  command  of  Major  Erwin) 
lay  in  position  upon  the  advanced  line,  with  heavy  details  at 
work  upon  the  fortifications,  where  the  sound  of  the  ax,  pick 
ax,  and  spade  might  have  been  hedrd  at  all  hours  of  the  night, 
as  well  as  day.  On  the  24th  it  was  relieved,  and  retired  a 
little  way  toward  the  rear,  but  next  morning  returned  to  its 
place  at  the  breastworks.  Heavy  firing  at  the  front  was  of 
daily  occurrence  for  a  fortnight  after  the  battle,  and  more  than 
once  it  seemed  as  if  the  rebels  were  about  to  attack  again  in 
force.  Before  the  end  of  September,  however,  the  intrench- 
ments  had  been  made  sufficiently  strong  to  justify  the  troops 
in  a  feeling  of  perfect  security,  so  far  as  concerned  any  direct 
assault  from  Missionary  Ridge  or  Chattanooga  Valley.  On 
the  27th  the  Sixth  Ohio  went  into  regular  camp,  and  was 
,  allowed  a  little  rest.  On  the  29th,  by  a  special  arrangement 
with  Bragg,  two  hundred  ambulances  were  sent  through  the 
rebel  lines  to  the  hospitals  at  Crawfish  Springs,  whence  they 

*Thia  is  said  to  be  the  meaning  of  the  word  "Chattanooga"  in  the 
original  Cherokee. 


CHATTANOOGA   AND   BKOWN's   FERRY.  481 

returned  at  midnight  with  six  or  seven  hundred  Union  wound 
ed — helpless,  shattered  forms  that  never  more  would  be  able 
to  fight  their  country's  battles,  even  should  they  recover. 
Among  this  number  was  Captain  Tinker,  whom  all  had  sup 
posed  dead  and  buried,  but  who  now  re-appeared,  clad  in  a 
dirty  suit  of  mingled  blue  and  gray,  and  weak  as  a  child  from 
intense  suffering,  yet  as  full  of  "  grit "  as  ever. 

"  On  Sunday,  October  4th,"  says  a  diary,  "  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Commission  preached  to  our  regiment  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  in  the  evening  we  had  dress  parade  for  the  first  time 
since  the  battle."  On  the  5th,  "  at  dress  parade,  a  shell  from 
a  rebel  battery  flew  over  the  regiment,  and  struck  the  ground 
beyond.  Almost  every  one  made  an  involuntary  bow.  The 
rebel  cannon,  which  dot  the  sides  of  Lookout,  have  been  throw 
ing  shells  all  day,  but  hurt  no  one.  The  enemy  also  shelled 
our  working  parties."  On  the  3d,  General  Rosecrans  addressed 
an  ominous  order  to  each  of  his  division  commanders,  as  fol 
lows  :  "  Until  further  orders,  only  two-thirds  rations  will  be 
issued  to  your  command,  and  when  you  deem  it  sufficient, 
only  one-half  rations."  Three  days  later  another :  "  The  lo 
cality  from  which  fire-wood  may  be  cut  (by  wood-parties,  under 
the  direction  of  the  regimental  quartermasters)  will  be  carefully 
designated  by  yourself,  care  being  taken  that  our  abattis  is  not 
destroyed,  and  that  no  timber  needed  for  the  fortifications  is 
appropriated.  The  troops  must  especially  be  prevented  from 
burning  the  railroad  ties,  or  in  any  way  injuring  the  track." 
Says  a  Sixth  Ohio  letter :  "  Before  we  left  Chattanooga,  there 
was  hardly  a  chip  to  be  found  within  two  miles  of  it  larger 
than  your  thumb-nail." 

On  the  9th  of  October  a  general  order  was  promulgated, 
announcing  the  consolidation  of  the  Twentieth  and  Twenty- 
first  Corps,  to  form  the  Fourth  Corps,  under  the  command  of 
31 


482  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Major-General  Gordon  Granger,  the  same  officer  who  mustered 
the  Sixth  Ohio  into  the  three-months'  service,  and  at  its 
reorganization  was  spoken  of  for  the  colonelcy.  Times  had 
changed  since  then !  The  men  parted  from  Crittenden  with 
general  regret,  his  kind  manners  and  thoughtful  regard  for 
their  comfort  having  made  him  personally  popular  with  all. 
The  change  just  noted  was  the  first  step  in  a  general  reorgan 
ization  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  designed  to  reduce 
the  number  of  its  subordinate  commands,  strengthen  those 
that  were  retained,  and  give  greater  compactness  and  mo 
bility  to  the  whole.  The  Sixth  Ohio  and  Twenty-third  Ken 
tucky  were  transferred  to  General  Hazen's  brigade,  and  with 
it  to  the  division  of  General  Wood. 

In  command  of  what  now  became  the  Third  Brigade,  First 
Division,  Fourth  Army  Corps — comprising,  among  its  nine 
regiments,  the  Eighty-fourth  Illinois,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and 
Ninth  and  Thirty-sixth  Indiana — Colonel  Grose  took  part  in 
the  subsequent  operations  around  Chattanooga,  the  winter  cam 
paign  in  East  Tennessee,  and  the  advance  upon  Atlanta.  On 
the  30th  of  July,  1864,  while  in  front  of  the  place  last  named, 
he  was  promoted  brigadier-general,  -with  which  rank  he  con 
tinued  in  command  of  nis  brigade  until  June,  1865,  soon 
after  which  he  was  detailed  as  president  of  the  famous  Crane 
court-martial  at  Nashville.  He  was  brevetted  Major-General 
of  Volunteers  on  the  15th  of  August,  in  that  year;  resigned  in 
the  following  December,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  New 
castle,  Indiana,  and  is  now  United  States  Revenue  Collector  in 
the  Fifth  District  of  Indiana. 

Major-General  Palmer  commanded  the  First  Division, 
Fourth  Army  Corps,  until  Thomas  replaced  Rosecrans  at  the 
head  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  when  he  succeeded  the 


CHATTANOOGA    AND   BROWN'S    FERRY.  483 

former  in  command  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps;  was  relieved 
therefrom,  at  his  own  request,  a  short  time  before  the  fall  of 
Atlanta ;  afterward  commanded  in  Kentucky,  where,  to  his  en 
during  honor,  he  incurred  the  hatred  of  every  rebel  in  the 
State;  resigned  early  in  the  year  1866,  and  returned  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession  at  home;  and,  at  this  writing,  is  the 
Republican  candidate  for  Governor  of  Illinois. 

Brigadier-General  Thomas  J.  Wood,  the  new  division  com 
mander  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  upon 
his  graduation  at  West  Point,  in  1845,  was  appointed  second 
lieutenant  in  the  corps  of  Topographical  Engineers.  Under 
Generals  Taylor  and  Scott,  he  served  with  distinction  through 
out  the  Mexican  war,  being  transferred,  at  his  own  request, 
while  at  Monterey,  to  the  Second  Dragoons.  He  passed  six 
years  with  that  command  on  the  western  frontiers,  and  being 
then  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  one  of  the  new  cavalry  regi 
ments  which  were  organized  in  the  summer  of  1855,  spent  four 
more  years  in  active  campaigning  against  the  Indians  on  the 
plains.  From  the  autumn  of  1859  to  the  spring  of  1861, 
he  was  engaged  in  traveling  in  the  old  world,  upon  leave  of 
absence,  extending  his  journeys  to  various  parts  of  Asia  and 
Africa,  and  some  time  during  this  period  was  promoted  major. 
Reporting  for  duty  before  the  expiration  of  his  leave  of  ab 
sence,  to  aid  in  suppressing  the  rebellion,  he  was  assigned  the 
task  of  organizing  and  mustering  Indiana's  quota  of  volun 
teers,  and  continued  in  the  performance  of  this  duty  until  ap 
pointed  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers,  on  the  llth  of  Octo 
ber,  1861,  and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Sherman,  at  Lou 
isville.  After  commanding  a  brigade  at  Camp  Nevin,  for  about 
two  months,  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Sixth 
Division,  Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  thenceforward,  until  the  close 
of  the  war;  his  service  was  uninterruptedly  at  the  front,  and 


484  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

able  throughout.  He  commanded  the  Fourth  Corps  for  several 
months  before  its  final  disbandment,  and  then  the  Department 
of  Mississippi.  He  attained  the  rank  of  major-general  by 
hard  fighting  and  faithful  service,  and  is  now  colonel  of  the 
Second  Cavalry. 

William  Babcock  Hazen  was  born  in  Windsor  County,  Ver 
mont,  September  27,  1830,  of  Revolutionary  ancestry,  who 
fought  their  way  to  such  positions  as  colonel  and  brigadier- 
general.  When  he  was  about  three  years  of  age,  his  parents 
emigrated  to  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  from  that  State  young 
Hazen  was  appointed  cadet  at  West  Point,  in  1851,  and  four 
years  later  brevet  second  lieutenant  in  the  Fourth  Infantry. 
He  served  on  the  Pacific  coast,  campaigning  actively  against  the 
Indians,  until  the  spring  of  1856,  when  he  came  East,  with  the 
commission  of  second  lieutenant  in  the  Eighth  Infantry.  Two 
years  of  almost  constant  service  against  the  Indians  in  Western 
Texas  and  New  Mexico  afforded  him  many  opportunities  for  the 
display  of  characteristic  gallantry  and  good  conduct — such,  in 
deed,  that  he  was  four  times  complimented  in  general  orders 
from  the  head-quarters  of  the  army — and,  on  the  3d  of  No 
vember,  1859,  resulted  in  his  receiving  a  severe  wound  in  the 
left  hand  and  right  side,  the  bullet  of  his  Camanche  antagonist 
still  remaing  in  the  muscles  of  the  back.  Lieutenant  Hazen  was 
almost  totally  disabled  for  more  than  a  year,  and  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  found  him  on  duty  at  West  Point,  as  assistant 
professor  of  infantry  tactics.  After  some  months  of  constant 
importunity  to  be  relieved,  in  order  that  he  might  accept  the 
command  of  one  of  the  volunteer  regiments  whose  colonelcies 
were  offered  him  from  time  to  time,  Captain  Hazen  finally  suc 
ceeded  in  obtaining  "  leave  of  absence,"  with  authority  to  as 
sume  command  of  the  Forty-first  Ohio;  and,  in  November, 
(1861,)  accordingly  led  that  fine  regiment  to  the  field.  His 


CHATTANOOGA   AND    BROWN'S   FERRY.  485 

services  as  brigade  commander  in  the  same  division  with  the 
Sixth  Ohio  have  been  frequently  referred  to  in  the  course  of 
our  narrative.  His  superb  behavior  at  Stone  River,  and  the 
consummate  ability  with  which  he  defended  the  "Round  For 
est/7  the  key-point  of  the  battle-field,  were  rewarded  with  a 
brigadier-general's  commission  to  date  from  November  29, 
1862,  and  stamped  him  a  soldier  who  had  mastered  his  profes 
sion  and  could  be  relied  upon  in  any  emergency.  General 
Hazeu's  command,  at  the  reorganization  which  we  are  now 
considering,  was  designated  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Di 
vision,  Fourth  Army  Corps,  and  consisted  of  nine  regiments, 
as  follows :  First,  Sixth,  Forty-first,  Ninety -third,  and  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio ;  Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Twenty- 
third  Kentucky ;  and  Sixth  Indiana. 

On  the  llth  of  October,  General  Hazen  reviewed  his  new 
brigade,  and  for  several  days  afterward  there  was  much  chang 
ing  of  camps  and  shifting  of  positions,  consequent  upon  the 
army's  reorganization.  On  the  13th,  the  Ohio  soldiers  in  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  voted  for  Governor  and  other  State 
officers.  In  the  Sixth  Ohio,  Brough  received  two  hundred 
and  five  votes,  and  Vallandigham  one.  The  aggregate  vote 
of  the  latter,  in  Wood's  division,  was  sixteen.  On  the  night 
of  the  15th,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher  rejoined  the  regi 
ment,  wet,  muddy,  and  tired,  and  at  once  assumed  command. 
The  other  members  of  his  detail  were  left  in  Cincinnati  upon 
recruiting  service,  under  the  superintendence  of  Colonel  An 
derson,  whose  Chickamauga  wound  was  a  severe  one,  and  pre 
vented  his  return  to  the  front  for  some  months.  On  the  17th 
the  rebels  sent  a  raft  down  the  river,  now  very  high  from  re 
cent  rains,  and  broke  the  pontoon  bridge  at  Chattanooga.  Al- , 
though  constant  vigilance  prevented  their  subsequent  attempts 


486  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

from  becoming  successful,  the  floods  in  the  Tennessee  more 
than  once  repeated  this  injury,  and  temporarily  cut  off  com 
munication  with  the  northern  bank,  whence  the  whole  army's 
scanty  supplies  were  received.  On  the  21st,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
changed  camp,  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  nearer  the  breast 
works.  The  labor  of  fortifying  still  went  on,  the  regiment 
daily  contributing  thirty-eight  men  for  that  purpose,  in  addi 
tion  to  a  detail  of  two  officers  and  fifty-two  men  for  picket 
duty. 

Day  by  day  the  suffering  of  the  troops  for  food  increased, 
and  "  We  are  very  hungry/'  or  some  equivalent  expression,  is 
an  entry  that  constantly  recurs  in  every  diary  kept  at  Chatta 
nooga  at  this  period.  When  the  supply  trains  came  in  from 
Stevenson,  a  crowd  of  hungry  soldiers  might  always  have  been 
seen  at  the  store-houses,  waiting  to  pick  up  every  piece  of 
cracker  as  large  as  a  pea  that  might  be  dropped  in  unloading, 
or  to  hold  their  hats  under  the  end  of  the  wagon-bed  to  catch 
the  still  smaller  crumbs  that  might  chance  to  fall.  Forage 
trains  they  would  follow  for  hundreds  of  yards,  in  the  hope 
that  an  ear  of  corn,  or  a  few  grains  at  least,  might  be  jolted 
out  into  the  mud.  Horses  and  mules  were  dying  daily  from 
sheer  starvation,  while  those  that  survived  were  so  enfeebled  as 
to  be  of  little  service.  It  is  computed  that  ten  thousand  ani 
mals  died  during  the  siege  of  Chattanooga ;  at  any  rate,  the 
road  across  Waldron's  Ridge  and  back  to  Stevenson  was  fairly 
lined  with  dead  carcasses. 

On  the  18th  of  October,  Kosecrans  was  relieved,  and  Gen 
eral  Thomas,  whom  every  officer  and  soldier  in  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  revered  and  liked,  next  day  assumed  com 
mand.  On  the  23d,  General  Grant  reached  Chattanooga,  with 
an  order  in  his  pocket,  delivered  him  by  Mr.  Stanton,  at 
Louisville,  on  the  18th,  placing  him  in  command  of  the  three 


487 

departments  of  the  Cumberland,  Ohio,  and  Tennessee,  consoli 
dated  as  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi.  Halleck 
had  also  written  Grant  at  considerable  length,  concluding  with 
this  assurance :  "  Whatever  measures  you  may  deem  proper  to 
adopt  under  existing  circumstances,  will  receive  all  possible 
assistance  from  the  authorities  at  Washington."*  How  dif 
ferent  from  the  treatment  which  the  General-in-Chief  and  the 
Secretary  of  War  had  meted  Rosecrans!  Grant  had  grown 
immensely  since  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  At  Vicksburg  he  had 
boldly  planned  and  ably  executed  one  of  the  most  successful 
campaigns  of  modern  warfare,  and  now  was  fairly  entitled  to 
be  considered  the  first  soldier  of  the  Republic.  New  victories 
were  soon  to  crown  him  such  beyond  all  cavil;  for  it  was 
Grant's  great,  yet  well-deserved,  good  fortune  to  come  to 
Chattanooga  under  circumstances  which  made  him  master  of 
the  situation,  and  gave  the  game  into  his  own  hands. 

How  to  feed  the  army  was  now  the  first  and  vital  question. 
The  problem  was  solved  by  sending  Hazen's  and  Turchin's 
brigades  to  seize  the  mouth  of  Lookout  Valley  at  Brown's 
Ferry,  nine  miles  below  Chattanooga,  by  the  U-shaped  course 
of  the  Tennessee,  (although  scarcely  three  miles  by  the  wagon- 
road  across  Moccasin  Point,  which  is  the  peninsula  enclosed 
within  the  U,)  and  by  bringing  up  Hooker's  column  to  occupy 
that  valley  in  force,  and  guard  the  roads  running  thither  from 
Bridgeport.  In  what  proportion  the  credit  of  planning  these 
movements  should  be  distributed  among  Rosecrans,  Grant, 
W.  F.  ("  Baldy  ")  Smith,  and  Thomas,  it  does  not  concern  us 
here  to  inquire ;  and  even  the  execution  of  that  plan  is  em 
braced  within  the  limits  of  our  subject  only  in  part. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher 
received  an  order  from  brigade  head-quarters  as  follows :  "  Reg- 
*  General  Badeau's  Life  of  Grant. 


488  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

imental  commanders  will  at  once  organize  parties  of  picked 
men  as  specified  below,  each  squad  to  be  in  charge  of  an  officer 
selected  especially  for  efficiency  and  courage.  As  soon  as  or 
ganized,  each  colonel  will  furnish  these  head-quarters  with 
complete  rolls  of  the  squads,  which  may  include  the  names  of 
men  on  picket,  if  they  are  known  to  be  effective.  Command 
ers  of  parties  will  at  once  muster  and  drill  their  squads.  .  . 
The  Sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  will  furnish  seven  squads 
of  twenty-five  men  each,  including  officers  and  non-commis 
sioned  officers.  .  .  Regimental  commanders  will  at  once 
take  command  of  these  squads,  leaving  the  officer  next  in 
rank  to  command  the  remainder  of  the  regiment.  Lieutenant- 

s 

Colonel  E.  B.  Langdon,  First  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  is 
detailed  to  command  the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  and  will 
report  at  these  head-quarters."  No  clue  was  furnished  as  to 
the  object  or  destination  of  the  movement ;  it  was  only  known 
that  the  undertaking  was  as  dangerous  as  it  was  important. 
The  officers  selected  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher  were 
Captains  Russell,  Thatcher,  Getty,  and  Southgate  (the  only 
officers  of  that  grade  with  the  regiment),  First  Lieutenant 
Choate,  and  Second  Lieutenants  Meline  and  Glisan. 

Next  day  a  considerable  portion  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  sent 
on  picket,  and  nothing  more  was  heard  of  the  secret  expedi 
tion  until  evening,  when  the  detail  was  relieved  and  returned 
to  camp.  At  midnight,  the  men  before  selected  in  the  various 
regiments  were  ordered  to  get  ready  to  move  at  once,  without 
blankets,  but  with  a  full  supply  of  cartridges.  They  fell  in 
soon  afterward,  and  marched  to  the  brigade  rendezvous,  and 
thence  through  the  town  to  the  river,  where  a  flotilla  of  clumsy 
flatboats  and  barges  was  in  waiting,  manned  by  oarsmen  from 
Colonel  Stanley's  Eighteenth  Ohio.  Embarking  promptly, 
the  troops  were  instructed  to  maintain  perfect  silence,  keep 


CHATTANOOGA   AND   BROWN'S   FERRY.  489 

close  to  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  and,  on  reaching  their 
landing-place,  to  form  with  all  possible  speed,  and  seize  the 
positions  which  would  be  pointed  out  to  them ;  and  at  3  A.  M. 
on  the  27th  the  whole  force  started — twelve  hundred  picked 
men  in  fifty-two  boats,  and  organized  in  four  sections  or  de 
tachments,  the  first  of  which  General  Hazen  accompanied. 
Six  squads  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  occupying  as  many  boats, 
formed  the  third  regiment  of  the  second  detachment  (Colonel 
Wiley's) ;  the  seventh  squad,  under  Lieutenant  Meline,  being 
detached  as  rear-guard  for  the  entire  fleet.  Meantime  the  re 
mainder  of  Hazen's  brigade,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lang- 
don,  and  the  whole  of  Turchin's  brigade,  had  filed  over  the 
pontoon  bridge  at  Chattanooga,  and  were  marching  across 
Moccasin  Point  as  supports. 

The  moon  was  at  its  full,  though  obscured  by  clouds;  the 
river  high,  and  the  current  strong.  The  oarsmen  bent  to  their 
tasks,  pulling  across  toward  the  opposite  shore,  and  one  by 
one  the  boats  dropped  through  the  opening  made  for  their 
passage  in  the  pontoon  bridge,  their  steersmen  being  guided 
by  the  glare  of  fires,  half  concealed,  upon  either  side  of  the 
opening.  No  sound  disturbed  the  night's  deep  quiet,  save  the 
dipping  of  the  oars  and  the  ripple  of  the  waters.  The  current 
was  soon  found  to  be  sufficiently  strong  to  permit  the  oars  to 
be  dispensed  with,  and  the  boats  floated  silently  down,  striking 
a  snag  occasionally,  or  passing  close  under  dark  trees,  whose 
overhanging  branches  seemed  threatening  to  sweep  the  men 
into  the  stream.  Two  miles  brought  them  opposite  the  rebel 
pickets,  who  could  be  plainly  seen,  taking  their  ease  before 
blazing  fires,  talking  together,  or,  perchance,  humming  over 
some  old  familiar  air  with  happy  unconcern.  Holding  their 
breath,  as  it  were,  the  men  passed  under  the  frowning  bro-sy 
of  Lookout,  rising  darkly  above  them  on  the  left,  with  the 


490  THE   STOKY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

enemy's  picket-fires  gleaming  on  the  wavelets,  and  threatening 
their  discovery  every  moment.  Safely,  however,  they  glided 
on — seven  miles,  in  all,  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  pickets, 
yet  unperceived.  The  rearward  boats  were  falling  behind  a 
little,  when  an  unseen  presence  amid  the  bushes  on  the  north 
ern  bank  said,  in  a  low  voice :  "  The  General  directs  that  you 
keep  well  closed  up ! "  Then  all  was  silent  as  before.  The 
gray  glimmer  of  early  dawn  was  beginning  to  brighten  into 
daylight,  and  reveille  was  just  being  sounded  in  the  camps  at 
Chattanooga,  and  the  nearer  ones  of  the  enemy,  as  the  first 
detachment  reached  Brown's  Ferry,  and  rowed  rapidly  to  the 
landing-place  previously  selected,  on  the  left  bank.  The  fore 
most  boat  was  within  twenty  feet  of  the  shore  before  its  pres 
ence  was  recognized.  Startled  as  by  an  apparition,  the  rebel 
pickets  poured  one  volley  into  it,  then  turned  and  fled,  pur 
sued  by  the  crews  of  the  first  three  boats,  pushing  out  the 
roadway  that  leads  up  Lookout  Valley.  In  quick  succession 
and  perfect  order  the  rest  of  the  boats  landed  at  two  narrow 
gorges  near  by,  cleft  in  the  hills  that  stretch  across  the  mouth 
of  the  valley,  and  forming  a  natural  tete-de-pont  for  the  bridge 
that  was  to  be  laid  at  this  point. 

The  second  detachment  moved  rapidly  up  the  slope  to  seize 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  upon  the  left  of  the  road,  and  took  po 
sition  there,  with  the  Fifth  Kentucky  on  the  right,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  next,  then  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio, 
and  the  Forty-first  Ohio  on  the  left.  Two  companies  from 
each  regiment  were  quickly  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers, 
while  the  rest  commenced  felling  the  timber  on  the  further 
slope  and  constructing  a  parapet,  each  squad  of  twenty-five 
having  brought  along  two  axes  for  this  purpose.  Alarmed 
by  the  picket-firing,  and  the  sound  of  Hazen's  axemen  on  the 
ridge,  the  rebels  poured  out  from  their  camps  a  little  way  up 


CHATTANOOGA    AND    BROWN'S    FERRY.  491 

the  valley,  and  attacked  vigorously.  But  the  Union  line  was 
now  receiving  reinforcements  every  minute  from  Langdon's 
men  across  the  river — the  boats  just  emptied  plying  thither 
and  back  under  straining  oars — and,  after  a  few  minutes  of 
rattling  musketry  fire,  the  assault  was  repulsed.  The  enemy 
then  opened  fire  with  artillery,  but  with  no  better  success 
than  before ;  and  in  three  hours  Hazen's  brigade  was  securely 
fortified,  with  an  abattis  of  slashed  timber  in  its  front,  while 
on  the  right  Turchin  was  equally  well  posted  upon  the  ridge 
beyond  the  road.  -The  rebels  gave  up  the  contest,  and  moved 
off  in  full  view  up  the  valley.  By  4  P.  M.,  General  Smith 
had  the  pontoon  bridge  completed,  when  some  artillery  and 
three  more  regiments  of  infantry  were  brought  over ;  and 
the  movement,  which  had  been  most  admirably  conducted 
throughout,  was  now  a  success  beyond  all  peradventure.  "Our 
losses,"  says  General  Hazen's  perspicuous  report,  "  were  five 
killed,  twenty-one  wounded,  and  nine  missing.  We  buried 
six  of  the  enemy,  and  a  large  number  are  known  to  have  been 
wounded,  including  the  colonel  commanding.  We  captured  a 
few  prisoners,  their  camp,  twenty  beeves,  six  pontoons,  and  a 
barge,  and  several  thousand  bushels  of  forage  also  fell  into 
our  hands.  The  enemy  had  at  this  point  one  thousand  in 
fantry,  three  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry — 
an  ample  force,  properly  disposed,  to  have  successfully  disputed 
our  landing."  The  casualty  list  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  comprised 
but  one  name — private  Joseph  Grau,  of  Company  K,  who  was 
shot  through  the  head  and  severely  wounded. 

The  next  day  Howard's  corps,  of  Hooker's  column,  came 
down  Lookout  Valley,  well-clad  and  trim,  though  scarcely  as 
hardy  in  appearance  as  the  ragged,  half- starved  survivors  of 
Chickamauga,  who  gave  them  welcome  at  Brown's  Ferry. 
On  the  following  night,  Geary's  division,  of  the  Twelfth  Corps, 


492  THE   STOKY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

was  furiously  attacked  near  Wauhatchie,  but  beat  off  their 
assailants  with  loss,  after  a  gallant  fight  of  nearly 'three  hours' 
duration.  Two  good  lines  had  now  been  secured  by  which  to 
obtain  supplies  from  Bridgeport,  namely,  the  main  wagon-road 
by  way  of  Whitesides,  Wauhatchie,  and  Brown's  Ferry,  a 
distance  of  twenty-eight  miles ;  and  the  route  by  steamer  to 
Kel ley's  Ferry,  and  thence  through  a  gap  in  the  Raccoon 
Mountains  to  Brown's  Ferry,  which  reduced  the  wagoning  to 
less  than  nine  miles,  including  the  distance  across  Moccasin 
Point.  The  siege  of  Chattanooga  was  virtually  raised,  the 
spirits  of  the  army  revived  at  once,  and  all  felt  that  victory 
was  surely  organizing. 

Hazen's  brigade  continued  fortifying  for  two  or  three  days, 
the  Sixth  Ohio  occupying  an  uncomfortable  bivouac  on  the 
steep  sides  of  the  ridge  just  behind  the  crest  first  seized.  At  3 
A.  M.,  on  the  30th,  the  little  stern-wheel  steamer  "  Paint  Rock  " 
ran  the  blockade  of  the  rebel  batteries  on  Lookout  Mountain, 
and  passed  down  the  river  on  its  way  to  Bridgeport  for  sup 
plies.  "  Still  on  short  rations,"  says  a  Sixth  Ohio  diary,  under 
date  of  the  31st,  "so  that  we  are  glad  to  get  corn  and  parch 
it  for  food.  Our  daily  allowance  is  two  crackers,  one-half 
pound  of  pork  or  beef,  and  one  spoonful  of  coffee  in  the  grain. 
General  Hazen  has  had  some  corn  ground,  and  the  meal  has 
helped  us  along  a  little."  But  this  state  of  affairs  lasted  but 
a  day  or  two  longer,  when  the  brigade  was  set  to  work  to 
build  log-huts  for  winter-quarters.  In  the  midst  of  this  labor, 
on  the  5th  of  November,  it  was  suddenly  ordered  back  to 
Chattanooga.  The  weather  was  wet  and  raw. 

On  the  7th  of  November  the  Sixth  Ohio  changed  camp  to 
Fort  Palmer,  a  lunette  which  had  been  constructed  mainly  by 
Cruft's  old  brigade.  On  the  10th  it  was  on  picket — "  the 
rebs  in  plain  sight,"  says  a  diary,  "  but  very  civil.  Their  vi- 


CHATTANOOGA   AND   BROWN'S    FEEKY.  493 

dettes  hallooed  to  ours  that  they  would  exchange  whisky  for 
coffee.  We  also  heard  their  bands  playing  the  '  Bonnie  Blue 
Flag'  and  'Annie  Laurie/ 9'  On  the  llth,  the  regiment  was 
paid  by  Major  Diven,  for  the  four  months  ending  October  31st. 
On  Sunday,  the  15th,  brigade  inspection  was  held,  and  certain 
sentences  of  a  late  court-martial  were  carried  into  execution. 
Says  a  diary:  "Napoleon  Bonaparte  was  drummed  through 
the  brigade  for  cowardice !  He  is  now  a  private  in  the  Forty- 
first  Ohio.  A  deserter  had  his  head  shaved  and  his  uniform 
taken  oif,  leaving  him  a  ridiculous  spectacle  in  drawers  and 
shirt.  The  man  who  pulled  the  pants  off  him  jerked  too  hard, 
and  upset  the  prisoner,  causing  a  laugh  along  the  whole  line." 
On  the  18th;  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  again  on  picket,  hearing 
heavy  firing  on  the  right,  and  at  night  seeing  rebel  signal 
lights  waving  to  and  fro  on  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary 
Ridge.  Says  a  sergeant :  "  Although  all  intercourse  with  the 
enemy's  videttes  is  forbidden,  by  calling  out  we  found  that  we 
were  opposed  by  the  Twenty-fourth  Alabama ;  and  when  we 
told  who  we  were,  they  replied,  '  Bully  for  the  Sixth  Ohio ! ' ' 
Next  day  Captain  Donovan  rejoined  the  regiment  from  re 
cruiting  service,  and  Adjutant  Throop  from  absence  by  reason 
of  wounds.  They  were  just  in  time  to  have  a  share  in  the 
glorious  work  of  storming  Missionary  Ridge. 

Colonel  Anderson,  Captains  Bense,  Montagnier,  and  Oilman, 
and  Lieutenant  Cormany,  had  been  granted  leaves  of  absence 
after  Chickamauga  on  account  of  wounds,  and  now  were  in 
Cincinnati.  Captain  Tinker,  too  feeble  to  bear  removal,  was 
in  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  and  Lieutenant  Holmes  was  in 
Libby.  Lieutenant  Irwin  had  discharged  the  duties  of  adju 
tant  during  the  greater  portion  of  Lieutenant  Throop's  absence, 
but  was  now  himself  absent  on  sick  leave,  as  was  Lieutenant 


494  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

La  Bille  also.  The  resignation  of  Quartermaster  Shoemaker 
was  accepted  on  the  22d  of  October,  and  that  of  Lieutenant 
Antram  on  the  29th.  The  latter  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and 
subsequently  performed  some  service  in  Hancock's  corps.  The 
former  resumed  the  railroad  business  in  the  transportation  de 
partment  of  Sherman's  army ;  and,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
found  himself  in  North  Carolina,  in  charge  of  the  Wilmington 
and  Weldon  Railroad.  For  the  past  three  years  he  has  been 
the  popular  host  of  the  American  Hotel,  at  Wilmington,  in  that 
State.  Lieutenant  Goodnough,  who  commanded  Company  A 
for  five  weeks  after  the  first  day's  fight  at  Chickamauga,  was 
detailed  as  acting  regimental  quartermaster.  On  the  3d  of 
November,  Lieutenant  Graham  again  joined  the  regiment, 
having  been  restored  by  an  order  from  the  War  Department, 
dated  August  12th;  and  next  day  Surgeon  Stephens,  after  six 
weeks7  efficient  service  as  chief  operator  at  the  division  hospi 
tal,  was  detailed  as  brigade  surgeon.  For  a  month  after  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  or  until  the  return  of  Sergeant  Mellen 
(wounded),  the  duties  of  sergeant-major  were  performed  by 
First  Sergeant  Nicholson,  of  Company  K. 

Thus,  on  the  20th  of  November,  the  officers  on  duty  with 
the  Sixth  Ohio  were  as  follows : 

Field  and  Staff — Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher,  Major 
Erwin,  Adjutant  Throop,  Assistant  Surgeon  Bedell,  and  Act 
ing  Regimental  Q.  M.  Goodnough. 

Company  A — Second  Lieutenant  Glisan  (detached  from 
Company  D),  commanding  company  since  October  25th. 

Company  B — First  Lieutenant  Choate  (detached  from  Com 
pany  G),  commanding  company  since  September  19th. 

Company  C — Captain  Southgate.  (Lieutenant  Kestner  re 
turned  from  recruiting  service  a  day  or  two  later.) 

Company  D — Captain  Russell. 


495 

Company  E — Second  Lieutenant  Graham,  commanding  com 
pany. 

Company  F — Captain  Thatcher. 

Company  G — Cap  tain 'Getty. 

Company  H — Second  Lieutenant  Meline,  commanding  com 
pany  since  September  19th. 

Company  I — Second  Lieutenant  Lewis,  commanding  com 
pany  since  September  20th. 

Company  K — Captain  Donovan  and  Second  Lieutenant 
Slanker.  (The  latter  commanded  the  company  for  two  months 
preceding  the  return  of  Captain  Donovan.) 


496  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 
MISSIONARY    RIDGE. 

(NOVEMBER  20-25,  1863.) 

N^EVER  did  any  commander  play  into  the  hands  of  his 
opponent  more  completely  than  Bragg,  when,  on  the  4th 
of  November,  he  detached  a  force  of  fifteen  thousand  infantry, 
five  thousand  cavalry,  and  eighty  guns,  and  sent  them  into 
East  Tennessee,  under  Longstreet,  to  crush  or  capture  Burn- 
side.  His  enemy  thus  weakened,  while  he  had  himself  just 
been  strengthened  by  the  junction  of  Hooker's  column  upon 
his  right,  Grant  desired  to  resume  the  offensive  at  once,  or  at 
least  to  make  such  a  demonstration  as  would  relieve  the  press 
ure  on  Burnside,  for  whose  safety  he  was  keenly  solicitous ; 
and  he  was  only  restrained  from  so  doing  by  Thomas7  inability 
to  move  for  want  of  artillery  horses,  and  other  hindrances 
which  his  utmost  exertions  could  not  entirely  remove.  Sher 
man  had  already  been  ordered  to  "  drop  all  work  on  the  rail 
road,  and  push  forward  to  Chattanooga  as  rapidly  as  possible ;" 
and  anxiously  Grant  awaited  his  arrival,  with  fresh  horses, 
and  such  a  reinforcement  of  veteran  troops  as  could  not  fail 
to  insure  the  success  of  projected  operations. 

The  original  plan  contemplated  moving  Sherman  across  the 
Tennessee,  at  the  mouth  of  North  Chickamauga  Creek,  whence 
he  was  to  ascend  the  north-eastern  extremity  of  Missionary 


MISSIONARY   RIDGE.  497 

Ridge,  and  sweep  forward  along  the  ridge,  taking  the  enemy's 
intrench ments  both  in  flank  and  rear.  As  it  was  conceded 
that  a  direct  front  attack  upon  the  enemy's  works  on  Mis 
sionary  Ridge  could  only  be  made  successful  at  a  great  and  un 
necessary  cost  of  life — if,  indeed,  they  could  be  carried  at  all — 
Sheridan's  and  Wood's  divisions,  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  were 
to  cross  Citico  Creek,  near  its  mouth,  just  above  Chattanooga; 
move  up  the  peninsula  inclosed  between  the  creek  and  the 
Tennessee  River;  form  a  junction  with  General  Sherman's 
right,  then  swing  toward  the  south-west,  and  sweep  along  the 
lower  slope  and  base  of  Missionary  Ridge.  The  remaining 
force  in  Chattanooga  was  to  make  a  demonstration  against  the 
enemy's  works  directly  in  their  front,  looking  out  for  the  safety 
of  the  town,  meanwhile,  against  a  counter  attack.  General 
Hooker's  two  corps  in  Lookout  Valley,  with  Cruft's  (formerly 
Palmer's)  division,  which  was  to  be  brought  up  from  White- 
sides,  were  to  threaten  Lookout  Mountain.  In  its  execution, 
however,  this  plan  was  materially  modified,  as  we  shall  see. 

By  the  20th  of  November,  Sherman's  command  was  nearly 
up ;  and,  during  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the  troops  at  Chat 
tanooga  received  precise  and  rigid  orders  for  a  movement  at 
daylight  on  the  next  morning,  with  two  days'  cooked  rations 
and  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition.  "All  detailed  men," 
said  General  Hazen's  order,  "  provost  and  other  guards,  clerks, 
orderlies,  cooks,  and  officers'  servants  (soldiers)  will  be  put  in 
ranks  at  once,  and  are  relieved,  temporarily,  from  present  de 
tails.  All  musicians,  and  other  men  without  arms,  will  be 
enrolled  for  a  hospital  corps,  mustered,  and  put  in  charge  of 
the  medical  officer.  One  enlisted  man,  a  non-combatant,  will 
be  left  in  charge  of  each  company  camp,  and  one  at  regimental 
and  brigade  head-quarters."  In  the  evening,  however,  these 
orders  were  suspended — on  account  of  the  rain,  then  steadily 
32 


498  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

falling,  as  the  men  supposed,  but  in  reality  because  Sherman 
was  behindhand,  although  he  was  straining  every  nerve  and 
receiving  every  possible  assistance.  The  21st  was  a  gloomy, 
wet  day,  and  passed  in  quiet.  Major  Erwin  rejoined  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  from  an  absence  of  eight  days  in  charge  of  a  forage 
train,  which  had  been  obliged  to  go  within  fifteen  miles  of 
Kingston,  East  Tennessee,  so  completely  had  the  country  been 
stripped  of  supplies  around  Chattanooga.  During  the  22d 
(Sunday),  great  and  mysterious  activity  was  observed  among 
the  rebels  on  Missionary  Ridge,  large  bodies  of  infantry,  with 
trains  and  artillery,  moving  from  the  direction  of  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Chattanooga  Valley  toward  the  left,  in  plain 
view.  The  guns  of  Fort  Wood  shelled  the  enemy  at  long 
range  for  several  hours.  The  orders  of  the  20th  were  re 
peated,  but  again  they  were  countermanded,  for  the  reason 
that  Sherman  had  not  yet  been  able  to  reach  his  assigned 
position.  Toward  evening,  the  Eleventh  Corps,  which  had 
marched  across  Moccasin  Point  the  day  before,  crossed  the 
pontoon  bridge  to  Chattanooga,  and  encamped  close  in  the 
rear  of  Wood's  and  Sheridan's  divisions. 

At  noon  on  the  23d — a  beautiful  day  of  late  autumn — 
Wood's  division,  supported  on  the  right  by  Sheridan's,  was 
ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  toward  Orchard  Knob,  and 
develop  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  whom  Grant  suspected  of  an 
intention  to  slip  away  before  the  blow,  so  long  preparing, 
could  be  delivered.  The  division  was  promptly  formed  on 
the  level  slope  immediately  south  of  Fort  Wood,  with  Hazen's 
brigade  on  the  right  and  Willich's  on  the  left,  both  formed  in 
two  lines,  and  Beatty's  brigade  in  reserve  in  rear  of  Willich's 
left.  These  dispositions  were  necessarily  made  in  full  view 
of  the  rebels,  and  within  six  or  seven  hundred  yards  of  their 
outposts,  but  were  mistaken  for  the  preliminaries  of  a  grand 


MISSIONARY   RIDGE.  499 

review.  Crowds  of  Bragg's  men  on  Missionary  Ridge  were 
looking  on  with  admiration  at  the  pageant  on  the  plains  be 
low,  until  those  lines  of  blue  and  burnished  steel  swept  past 
the  picket  stations,  and  the  sharp  crackling  of  musketry  ran 
along  the  base  of  Orchard  Knob ;  then  they  comprehended  its 
meaning. 

General  Wood's  official  report  is  worthy  of  the  events  which 
it  describes.  We  can  not  do  better  than  follow  his  graphic 
narrative  from  this  point  onward,  referring  to  General  Hazen's 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher's  reports,  in  connection 
with  the  officer's  letter  also  appended,  for  a  more  particular 
account  of  the  Sixth  Ohio's  part  amid  these  glorious  scenes. 

Fort  Wood  crowns  a  coniccal  eminence  about  two  hundred  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  river,  situated  about  half  a  mile  out  of 
Chattanooga,  in  a  south-easterly  direction.  From  its  parapet  the 
rebel  works  and  troops  were  clearly  discernible.  The  descent  of 
this  hill,  on  the  northern,  eastern,  and  western  sides  is  abrupt,  but 
gradual  on  the  southern,  extending  down  into  the  valley,  through 
which  runs  the  Western  and  Atlantic  Railway.  At  one  and  a 
half  o'clock  P.  M.  the  arrangements  were  all  completed,  the  troops 
were  in  position,  and  the  reserve  ammunition  and  ambulance  trains 
in  rear  of  Fort  Wood.  Then,  at  the  bugle  signal,  the  magnifi 
cent  array  and  serried  columns  moved  forward.  Scarcely  ever 
does  it  fall  to  the  lot  of  man  to  witness  so  grand  a  military  dis 
play.  Every  circumstance  was  present  that  could  heighten  the 
interest  of  the  scene,  or  impart  dramatic  effect.  On  the  ramparts 
of  Fort  Wood  were  gathered  officers  of  high  rank  [Grant,  Thomas, 
Howard,  Granger,  and  others],  crowned  with  honors  gathered  on 
other  fields.  There,  also,  were  officers  [General  W.  F.  Smith, 
Quartermaster-General  Meigs,  etc.]  distinguished  for  scientific 
attainments,  and  rare  administrative  ability.  Troops  in  line  and 
column  checkered  the  broad  plain  of  Chattanooga.  In  front, 


500  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

plainly  to  be  seen,  was  the  enemy,  who  was  soon  to  be  encoun 
tered  in  deadly  conflict.  My  division  seemed  to  drink  in  the  in 
spiration  of  the  scene,  and,  when  the  advance  was  sounded,  moved 
forward  in  the  perfect  order  of  a  holiday  parade.  ...  I 
should  do  injustice  to  the  brave  men  who  thus  moved  forward  to 
the  conflict  in  such  perfect  order,  were  I  to  omit  to  say  that  not 
one  straggler  lagged  behind  to  sully  the  magnificence  and  perfect- 
ness  of  the  grand  battle  array. 

From  Fort  Wood  to  the  railroad  the  country  is  open.  South 
of  the  railroad  the  country  passed  over  is  partly  open  and  partly 
wooded.  Hazen's  brigade  had  to  pass  over  the  open  field,  several 
hundred  yards  in  breadth,  and  Willich's  through  the  woods.  On 
the  southern  side  of  the  field  the  enemy's  front  line  of  pickets 
was  posted.  Orchard  Knob,  given  in  the  order  directing  the  re- 
connoissance  as  the  guiding  point,  is  a  steep,  craggy  knoll,  rising 
some  hundred  feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  valley  of  Chat 
tanooga.  It  is  twenty-one  hundred  yards  from  Fort  Wood,  and 
had  been  held  by  the  rebels  as  an  outpost  since  the  investment 
was  first  established.  The  position  being  naturally  so  strong, 
they  had  done  but  little  to  strengthen  it  by  intrenchments  on  its 
summit.  To  the  right  of  Orchard  Knob,  looking  toward  the 
South,  a  rocky,  abrupt,  wooded  ridge  extends  several  hundred 
yards  toward  the  south-west,  but  is  not  so  elevated  as  the  knob. 
The  enemy  had  formed  rude  but  strong  barricades  on  the  north 
ern  slope,  just  beyond  the  crest  of  this  ridge.  To  the  left  of  the 
knob,  still  looking  toward  the  south,  a  long  line  of  rifle-pits  ex 
tended  away  off  to  the  north-east,  and,  trending  round,  reached 
almost  to  Citico  Creek.  Orchard  Knob  was  the  citadel  of  this 
line  of  intrenchments. 

General  Willich  was  ordered  to  direct  his  brigade  on  the  knob, 
and  General  Hazen  his  brigade  on  the  intrenchments  on  the  right 
of  it.  As  soon  as  the  skirmishers  moved  forward,  the  enemy 
opened  fire.  Across  the  open  field,  and  through  the  woods,  the 
skirmishers  kept  up  a  sharp,  rattling  fire,  steadily  and  rapidly 


MISSIONARY   RIDGE.  501 

driving  in  the  enemy.  As  the  knob  and  intrenchments  were 
neared,  the  fire  became  hotter,  and  the  resistance  of  the  rebels 
more  determined,  but  the  majestic  advance  of  our  lines  was  not 
for  a  moment  stayed.  Finally,  Willich's  brigade,  which  had  met 
with  less  opposition  than  Hazen's,  having  arrived  quite  near  the 
knob,  "by  a  bold  brush"  ascended  its  steep  acclivity,  crowned  its 
summit,  and  it  was  ours.  In  the  meantime,  Hazen's  brigade  was 
encountering  a  determined  resistance  from  the  enemy,  sheltered 
by  his  breastworks,  on  the  rocky  ridge  to  the  right.  For  a  few 
moments  the  fire  was  sharp  and  destructive.  More  than  a  hun 
dred  casualties  in  the  leading  regiments  attest  the  severity  of  the 
fire.  But  nothing  could  restrain  the  impetuosity  of  the  troops, 
and  in  a  few  moments  after  Willich's  brigade  had  carried  Orchard 
Knob,  Hazen's  skirmishers  poured  over  the  enemy's  barricades. 
The  Twenty-eighth  Alabama,  with  its  flag,  was  captured  almost 
entire.  So  soon  as  the  knob  and  barricades  were  taken,  the 
enemy  fled,  to  take  shelter  in  his  intrenchments  at  the  base  of 
Mission  Ridge.  .  .  .  Shortly  after  this  brilliant  dash,  General 
Granger,  commanding  the  Fourth  Army  Corps,  joined  me  at  Or 
chard  Knob.  Personal  observation  assured  him  of  the  extensive- 
ness  and  completeness  of  our  success.  The  result  having  been 
reported  to  General  Thomas,  he  ordered  the  position  to  be  held 
and  intrenched,  and  soon  the  men  were  engaged  in  this  work. 
While  so  employed,  the  enemy  opened  a  most  terrific  fire  of  shot 
and  shell  on  us  from  several  batteries  established  on  Mission  Ridge. 
It  was  continued  nearly  an  hour — in  fact,  until  toward  night 
fall.  It  seems  almost  a  miracle,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that 
no  damage  was  inflicted  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  further  than  very 
slightly  wounding  one  man  by  the  fragment  of  a  shell.  .  <  . 
The  whole  of  the  night  of  the  23d  was  spent  in  intrenching  our 
position,  in  which  laborious  work  the  troops  evinced  as  much  for 
titude  as  they  had  shown  gallantry  in  gaining  the  same.  Not 
only  was  a  line  of  rifle-pits  and  barricades  constructed  along  the 
entire  front  of  the  division,  but  a  strong  epaulement  for  a  six-gun 


502  THE   STOKY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

\ 

field  battery  was  thrown  up  on  the  summit  of  Orchard  Knob — 
Bridge's  battery  of  four  three-inch  Rodman  guns,  and  two  Napo 
leons.  The  early  light  of  Tuesday  morning  disclosed  to  the 
anxious  gaze  of  the  rebels  such  works  as  must  have  convinced 
them  that  we  intended  to  hold  the  position.  .;.,-.,. 

During  the  24th  the  division  was  quiet,  remaining  in  undis 
turbed  possession  of  the  important  acquisitions  of  the  previous 
afternoon.  The  enemy,  in  full  view,  and  sheltered  behind  his 
rifle-pits  at  the  base  of  Mission  Ridge,  made  no  effort  to  retrieve 
his  losses.  An  occasional  shot  from  the  skirmishers,  and  the 
booming  of  a  gun  from  Orchard  Knob,  varied  the  monotony  of 
the  day.  We  had  ample  opportunity  to  watch,  with  eager  interest, 
the  brilliant  operations,  though  miles  away,  of  General  Hooker's 
command  for  the  possession  of  Lookout  Mountain  ;  and  when  the 
morning  sun  of  Wednesday,  the  25th,  had  dispelled  the  mists 
from  the  mountain-top,  and  revealed  the  banner  of  the  brave  and 
the  free  flying  from  the  topmost  peak  of  Lookout  Mountain,  loud 
and  long  were  the  shouts  with  which  my  division  made  the  wel 
kin  ring. 

[General  Wood  then  gives  the  orders  which  he  received  at 
night-fall  on  the  24th,  to  have  every  thing  ready  for  an  offensive 
movement  early  the  next  morning,  and  proceeds :] 

In  conformity  with  these  instructions,  during  Tuesday  night  I 
had  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition  per  man  distributed  to 
the  troops,  and  the  rations  in  the  haversacks  replenished.  At 
dawn  my  division  was  ready  for  action,  and  only  awaited  the  order 
from  the  senior  officers  to  commence  the  onslaught.  [This  order 
was  delayed  by  the  non-appearance  of  Hooker's  forces,  sweeping 
along  Mission  Ridge  from  the  south-west,  as  was  the  part  assigned 
them  for  this  day's  operations.]  Early  in  the  forenoon,  Orchard 
Knob  became  the  station  of  officers  of  high  rank  and  signal  re 
nown.  The  commanding  general  of  the  Division  of  the  Missis 
sippi  was  there,  as  was  also  the  commander  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  During  the  forenoon  I  was  ordered  to  advance  my 


MISSIONARY    RIDGE.  503 

line  of  skirmishers  to  the  southern  edge  of  the  wood  intervening 
between  my  position  and  the  enemy's  rifle-pits  at  the  base  of 
Mission  Ridge.  This  service  was  gallantly  performed,  [by  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  and  a  regiment  from  Wil- 
lich's  brigade,]  the  enemy's  skirmishers  being  rapidly  driven  back, 
and  compelled  to  take  shelter  behind  their  rifle-pits.  As  the  day 
progressed,  the  interest  which  attracted  every  eye  and  absorbed 
every  feeling  was  that  involved  in  the  attempt  of  General  Sher 
man's  command  to  effect  a  lodgment  on  Mission  Ridge,  near  the 
tunnel.  Severer  opposition  than  had  been  expected  was  evidently 
being  met  with  in  that  quarter ;  and  to  lessen  this,  it  was  deter 
mined  that  a  movement  should  be  made  against  the  rebel  center. 
I  was  ordered  to  advance  and  carry  the  enemy's  intrenchments  at 
the  base  of  Mission  Ridge,  and  hold  them.  The  signal  for  the 
advance  was  to  be  six  guns  fired,  in  rapid  succession,  from  the 
batter^  on  Orchard  Knob.  The  necessary  instructions  were  at 
once  given  to  the  brigade  commanders.  It  was  now  near  three 
o'clock  P.  M. 

Mission  Ridge  is  an  elevated  range,  with  an  average  altitude  of 
several  hundred  feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  country,  run 
ning  from  north-east  to  south-west.  The  part  of  it  assaulted  by 
my  division,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th,  is  about  four  miles  from 
Chattanooga,  and  about  a  mile  from  Orchard  Knob.  Between  the 
latter  and  the  base  of  Mission  Ridge  is  a  broad,  wooded  valley, 
which,  of  course,  had  to  be  traversed  before  the  intrenchments 
could  be  reached  at  the  base  of  the  ridge.  Soon  the  booming  of 
the  six  guns  awakened  the  reverberations  of  the  fastnesses  of  Mis 
sion  Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain  ;  and  before  the  echoes  had 
died  away  in  the  distant  recesses  of  their  rugged  heights,  the  ad 
vance  was  commenced.  As  soon  as  o.ur  troops  began  to  move 
forward,  the  enemy  opened  a  terrific  fire  from  his  batteries  on  the 
crest  of  the  ridge,  where  they  were  so  posted  as  to  give  both  a 
direct  and  cross-fire  on  the  assaulting  troops.  It  would  not,  per 
haps,  be  an  exaggeration  to  say  that  the  enemy  had  fifty  guns 


504  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

disposed  on  the'  crest  of  Mission  Ridge.  But  the  rapid  firing  of 
all  this  mass  of  artillery  could  not  stay  the  onward  movement  of 
our  troops.  They  pressed  forward  with  dauntless  ardor,  and  car 
ried  the  line  of  intrenchments  at  the  base  of  the  ridge.  The 
enemy,  impressed,  no  doubt,  with  the  uselessness  of  resistance, 
made  no  serious  opposition,  but  sought  safety  by  flight  behind 
his  intrenchments  on  the  crest  above  us. 

We  had  been  instructed  to  carry  the  line  of  intrenchments  at 
the  base  of  the  ridge,  and  then  halt.  But  the  enthusiasm  and 
impetuosity  of  the  troops  were  such  that  those  who  first  reached 
the  intrenchments  bounded  over  them,  and  pressed  on  up  the 
ascent  after  the  flying  enemy.  [Among  this  number  was  the  Sixth 
Ohio.]  Moreover,  the  iutrenchmeuts  were  no  protection  against 
the  enemy's  artillery  on  the  ridge.  To  remain  would  be  destruc 
tion ;  to  retire  would  be  both  expensive  in  life  and  disgraceful. 
Officers  and  men  all  seemed  impressed  with  this  truth,  and,  in 
addition,  the  example  of  those  who  had  already  commenced  to 
ascend  the  ridge  was  contagious.  Without  waiting  for  an  order, 
the  vast  mass  pressed  forward  in  the  race  of  glory,  each  man  eager 
to  be  the  first  on  the  summit.  The  enemy's  artillery  and  mus 
ketry  could  not  check  the  impetuous  assault.  The  troops  did  not 
halt  to  fire;  to  have  done  so  would  have  been  ruinous.  Little 
was  left  to  the  immediate  commanders  of  the  troops  except  to  cheer 
on  the  foremost,  to  encourage  the  weaker  of  limb,  and  to  sustain 
the  very  few  who  seemed  to  be  faint-hearted.  To  the  eternal 
honor  of  the  troops,  it  should  be  recorded  that  the  laggards  were 
indeed  few  in  number.  The  interval  which  elapsed  between  the 
carrying  of  the  intrenchments  at  the  base  of  the  ridge  and  the 
crowning  of  the  summit,  must  have  been  one  of  intense  and  pain 
ful  anxiety  to  all  who  were  not  participants  in  the  assault.  The 
ascent  of  Mission  Ridge  was  truly  an  effort  sufficient  to  try  the 
strongest  limbs  and  stoutest  hearts. 

But  suspense  and  anxiety  were  not  of  long  duration.  Steadily 
upward  went  the  standard  of  the  Union — borne  onward  by  strong 


MISSIONARY   EIDGE.  505 

arms,  upheld  by  brave  hearts — and  soon  it  was  seen  flying  on  the 
crest  of  Mission  Ridge  !  Loud,  indeed,  were  the  shouts  with  which 
this  spectacle  was  received.  Some  of  the  first  troops  on  the  crest 
pressed  forward  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy  immediately  in  front 
of  them,  while  others  (with  great  good  sense  on  the  part  of  their 
brigade  commanders)  were  deployed  to  the  right  and  left  to  clear 
the  ridge,  and  to  relieve  the  pressure  on  our  troops  that  had  not 
yet  gained  the  summit.  The  good  effect  of  the  flank  attacks  was 
almost  instantly  apparent,  and  soon  the  entire  crest  was  occupied 
by  our  troops.  Mission  Ridge  was  ours !  The  enemy,  whom  we 
had  seen  during  the  two  lonely  months  of  the  investment  occupy 
ing  this  dominating  position,  was  in  full  retreat.  As  the  day  was 
nearly  spent,  and  the  troops  much  worn  and  somewhat  disordered 
by  the  ascent,  the  pursuit  could  not,  of  course,  be  long  continued. 
Darkness  was  coming  on  apace,  and  the  brigades  were  reformed  on 
the  crest  of  the  ridge,  where  they  bivouacked  for  the  night: 

The  assault  of  Mission  Ridge  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  re 
markable  achievements  of  military  history.  With  so  much  armed 
resistance  encountered,  probably  no  assault  was  ever  so  eminently 
successful.*  In  fifty  minutes  from  the  time  the  advance  com 
menced,  the  first  flags  were  seen  flying  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge. 

*  The  chagrin  and  mortification  of  all  rebeldom  over  the  successful 
storming  of  Missionary  Ridge  was  too  keen  for  any  attempt  at  conceal 
ment.  General  Bragg' s  official  report  says  :  "  While  riding  along  the 
crest,  congratulating  the  troops  [upon  having  checked  a  portion  of  the 
Union  line  on  the  right  of  Wood's  division],  intelligence  reached  me  that 
our  line  was  broken  on  my  right,  and  the  enemy  had  crowned  the  ridge. 
.  .'  .  .  All  the  left,  however,  except  a  portion  of  Bate's  division,  was 
entirely  routed  and  in  rapid  flight — nearly  all  the  artillery  having  been 
shamefully  abandoned  by  its  infantry  support.  Every  effort  which  could 
be  made  by  myself  and  staff,  and  by  many  other  mounted  officers,  availed 
but  little.  A  panic,  which  I  had  never  before  witnessed,  seemed  to  have 
seized  upon  officers  and  men,  and  each  seemed  to  be  struggling  for  his 
personal  safety,  regardless  of  his  duty  or  his  character No 


506  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

But  the  great  achievement  was  not  won  without  serious  loss  in  gal 
lant  and  accomplished  officers  and  brave  men  killed  and  wounded. 
,  *.  .  .  .  The  grand  summary  of  the  captures  by  the  division 
is  as  follows  :  Field-guns,  twenty-nine  ;  field-caissons,  twenty-five  ; 
regimental  colors,  seven  ;  stands  of  small  arms,  two  thousand  and 
fifty;  and  prisoners,  over  one  thousand.  [See  General  Hazen's 
report.] 

AN    OFFICER'S    LETTER. 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Nov.  — ,  1863. 

PEAR :    .    .    .    .    About  5  P.  M.,  on  the  24th,  the  Sixth 

Ohio  was  sent  out  on  picket,  between  Orchard  Knob  and  the  base 
of  Mission  Ridge,  and  far  on  into  the  night  could  still  hear  Hook 
er's  men  driving  the  rebels  from  Lookout  Mountain.  Every  thing 
on  our  own  front  passed  off  quietly,  however,  until  about  10  A.  M. 
on  the  25th,  when  we  received  orders  to  deploy  and  drive  the  rebels 
to  their  works  (their  second  line).  Our  boys  went  forward  in  fine 
style,  finding  the  rebel  pickets  quite  close  to  us,  although  up  to 
this  time  we  had  seen  nothing  of  them.  The  pickets  fired,  of  course, 

satisfactory  excuse  can  possibly  be  given  for  the  shameful  conduct  of  our 
troops  on  the  left,  in  allowing  their  line  to  be  penetrated.  The  position 
was  one  which  ought  to  have  been  held  by  a  line  of  skirmishers  against 
any  assaulting  column,  and  wherever  resistance  was  made,  the  enemy  fled 
in  disorder  (?)  after  suffering  heavy  loss.  Those  who  reached  the  ridge, 
did  so  in  a  condition  of  exhaustion  from  the  great  physical  exertion  in, 
climbing,  which  rendered  them  powerless,  and  the  slightest  effort  would 
have  destroyed  them."  Says  Pollard's  "Lost  Cause":  "A  brigade  in  the 
Confederate  center  gave  way,  and,  in  a  few  moments,  what  had  been  a 
regular  and  vigorous  battle,  became  a  disgraceful  panic  and  an  unmiti 
gated  rout.  Never  was  a  victory  plucked  so  easily  from  a  position  so 
strong.  ,  .  .  The  day  was  shamefully  lost.  General  Bragg  attempted 
to  rally  the  broken  troops;  he  advanced  into  the  fire,  and  exclaimed: 
'  Here  is  your  commander ! '  but  was  answered  with  the  derisive  shouts 
of  an  absurd  catch-phrase  in  the  army,  ' Here's  your  mule  /'  " 


MISSIONARY   RIDGE.  507 

but  our  boys  gave  them  but  little  time,  keeping  them  on  the  run 
from  the  start.  As  soon  as  we  cleared  a  small  wood  and  got  into 
an  open  field,  the  rebels  opened  with  artillery,  and,  I  assure  you, 
the  fire  was  terrific.  We  halted  about  two  hundred  yards  from  the 
enemy's  intrenchments  at  the  base  of  the  ridge,  and  commenced 
sharpshooting.  [During  a  brief  lull  in  this  exercise,  Sergeant 
Palm  brought  out  a  mail  and  distributed  it — Rush  Drake,  the 
regimental  postmaster,  being  in  the  ranks  with  a  gun.]  The  men 
were  deployed  behind  stumps,  logs,  or  any  thing  else  that  would 
afford  shelter,  and  the  regiment  seemed  to  be  having  quite  a  nice 
time,  until  the  skirmishers  from  Willich's  brigade,  on  our  left,  were 
ordered  to  fall  back,  and  did  so,  leaving  our  flank  exposed.  The 
rebels  soon  had  a  column  deployed  to  take  us  in  the  rear,  where 
upon  we  retired  about  fifty  yards,  and  then  General  Wood  ordered 
Willich's  skirmishers  forward  again.  Just  as  we  were  falling  back, 
Major  Erwin  was  struck  in  the  head  by  a  piece  of  shell  and  in 
stantly  killed.  The  regiment's  total  loss  in  this  skirmish  was  about 
eighteen  killed  and  wounded. 

After  this  nothing  particular  occurred,  except  that  the  enemy 
still  kept  moving  troops  toward  his  right  (our  left),  in  order  to 
meet  Sherman's  attack,  and  in  so  doing  marched  in  full  view  along 
the  summit  of  Mission  Ridge.  When  Grant  thought  they  had 
weakened  their  force  on  our  front,  he  ordered  the  center  and  left 
center  to  advance  and  take  the  line  of  works  at  the  base  of  Mis 
sion  Ridge.  About  2  P.  M.  our  regiment  was  relieved  from  the 
skirmish  line  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and 
ordered  to  the  breastworks ;  and,  as  we  knew  nothing  of  the  in 
tended  attack,  we  congratulated  ourselves  upon  our  good  fortune  in 
being  relieved  so  soon.  But  the  moment  we  reached  our  fortifi 
cations  on  Orchard  Knob  we  saw  that  something  was  up.  The 
regiment  was  placed  on  the  left  of  the  first  line  of  our  brigade, 
and  had  not  long  to  wait  before  the  six  signal  guns  were  fired  on 
Orchard  Knob,  and  then  came  the  order  to  advance.  Over  the 
breastworks  moved  the  line,  the  rebels  opening  their  artillery  upon 


508  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

us  almost  immediately.  We  got  through  the  woods  and  entered 
the  cleared  field,  and  then,  with  a  yell,  started  on  a  run  for  the 
rifle-pits.  It  was  a  splendid  and  terrible  sight.  It  reminded  me 
of  Tennyson's  "Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade" — cannon  to  the 
right  of  us,  cannon  to  the  left  of  us,  cannon  in  front  of  us,  vol 
leyed  and  thundered.  We  all  knew  that  the  sooner  we  took  the 
ridge  the  better  it  was  for  us,  and  every  man  put  in  his  very  best. 
From  what  I  could  see,  our  regiment  seemed  to  be  the  best  run 
ners  ;  we  distanced  the  other  troops,  and  were  the  first  in  the  rifle- 
pits  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge. 

Although  our  orders  only  required  us  to  seize  these  works,  we 
at  once  saw  that  we  could  not  hold  them,  the  rebel  artillery  and 
musketry  from  the  ridge  commanding  them  so  closely  that  to  stay 
there  long  would  have  been  certain  death.  So  we  again  led  on  for 
the  summit.  Such  a  getting  up  hill  you  never  saw.  We  had  to 
rest  every  few  minutes,  but  gradually  the  troops  moved  up  until 
nearly  under  the  works,  whence  the  enemy  were  still  blazing  away 
at  us,  and  their  batteries,  in  particular,  working  desperately.  As 
soon  as  we  had  recovered  breath  during  our  last  halt,  the  command 
"Fix  bayonets!"  was  given.  This  the  rebels  heard,  and  it  scared 
them  mightily.  As  we  rose  up  to  move  forward  again,  a  volley  was 
poured  almost  into  our  very  faces,  and  many  of  our  brave  boys  fell. 
The  next  minute  we  cleared  the  works  and  jumped  right  in  among 
the  rebels.  Such  a  confused  mass  I  never  saw,  nor  expect  to  see 
again.  Here  were  officers  trying  to  rally  their  men,  there  a  bat 
tery  trying  to  limber  up,  and  every-where  masses  of  running  reb 
els — fellows  "lighting  out"  for  dear  life — and  our  men  popping 
them  over  as  if  they  were  quails.  I  .saw  many  a  poor  fellow  bayo 
neted,  but  it  was  all  fair  play.  You  have  no  idea  of  the  spirit 
of  our  troops  in  making  the  attack.  Every  man  tried  to  be  first  on 
the  hill,  and  such  enthusiasm  I  never  saw.  It  was  glorious  !  As 
soon  as  we  reached  the  summit,  part  of  our  regiment  went  for  the 
battery,  captured  it,  and  compelled  the  gunners  to  work  the  pieces 
against  their  own  men.  The  officer  in  command  of  the  battery  shot 


MISSIONARY   RIDGE.  509 

two  of  our  men  with  a  revolver,  and  would  not  surrender.  He 
was  quickly  shot  down.  Hazen  saw  that  the  rebs  on  our  left  still 
held  their  ground,  and  were  giving  Willich  some  trouble,  when  he 
ordered  our  regiment  to  charge  down  on  their  flanks,  which  we  did 
with  a  yell,  and  in  a  short  time  the  whole  ridge  was  cleared.  Every 
body  seemed  crazy  with  delight,  doubling  the  rebels  back  and  chas 
ing  them  in  every  direction. 

It  was  now  near  dark,  and  the  country  in  front  unfamiliar  to  all 
of  us.  We  bivouacked  on  the  ridge,  and  built  rifle-pits  with  in 
trenching  tools  that  Hazen  had  had  loaded  in  the  wagons  before 
we  started  from  Orchard  Knob.  As  it  afterward  proved,  this 
labor  was  superfluous,  the  rebels  continuing  a  rapid  retreat  all 
night.  Our  brigade  captured  eighteen  pieces  of  artillery,  two 
battle-flags,  about  four  hundred  prisoners,  and  any  quantity  of 
small  arms.  The  rebels  did  not  save  a  single  cannon  they  had  on 
the  hill.  One  gun  that  we  took  was  marked,  "Captured  from 
Rosecrans  on  the  31st  of  Dec.,  '63,  at  Stone  River."  Hazen 
(who  was  with  us  all  the  time)  and  the  other  generals  were  all  in 
splendid  humor,  and  complimented  the  troops  greatly.  Two  of 
my  company  were  killed  and  three  wounded,  one  of  my  men  being 
shot  through  and  through  with  a  solid  shot.  .  .  .  The  Sixth 
Ohio  was  the  first  regiment  that  reached  the  summit  with  its-  flag. 
The  First  Ohio  came  up  about  the  same  time,  but  not  with  its 
flag.* 

*  Hundreds  of  amusing  incidents  occurred  at  Mission  Ridge,  of  which 
the  following  will  serve  as  specimens : 

"I  must  tell  you  a  good  thing  that  Dick  Southgate  got  off  just  as  we 
reached  the  summit.  A  Johnny,  looking  anxiously  over  his  log  barricade, 
called  out,  '  H  'yer,  cap'n;  I  want  to  surrender — what  shall  I  do?'  'Get 
over  them  logs  to  this  side,'  answered  Dick;  ' you' 'II  be  in  the  United 
Slates  then  ! '  "—Private  Letter. 

"A  Dutch  boy  in  Company  E,  named  Johnny ,  caught  sight  of  five 

rebs  peering  over  the  logs,  and  all  apparently  aiming  at  him.  '  Surren 
der,  you  G —  d — d  fools,  he  shouted,  'or  I'll  shoot  every  one  of  you!' 


510  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


LIEUTENANT  -  COLONEL     CHRISTOPHER'S     OFFICIAL 
'     REPORT. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  SIXTH  REGIMENT  OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY,  ) 
CAMP  NEAR  KNOXVILLE,  TENN.,  December  8,  1863.          J 

Captain  John  Crowell,  Jr.,  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant- General — 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following  as  the  part  taken 
by  my  command  in  the  engagements  of  the  23d  and  25th  of  No 
vember,  near  Chattanooga.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  I  was 
ordered  to  take  position  on  the  left  of  the  second  line  of  battle, 
and  moved  forward  with  the  brigade,  but  took  no  active  part  in 
the  fighting.  That  night  we  threw  up  breastworks  in  our  front. 
On  the  evening  of  the  24th,  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Foy  commanding,  was  ordered  to  report  to  me ; 
and  at  dark  my  command  was  sent  on  picket,  relieving  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio.  About  10  A.  M.,  on  the  25th, 

They  caved  handsomely,  and  having  made  them  lay  down  their  guns, 
Johnny  gave  them  in  charge  of  Throop.  '  Now,  take  off  all  your  leather,' 
said  that  worthy,  '  and  go  right  down  the  hill  till  you  meet  the  provost 
guards.  Give  yourselves  up  to  them,  and  you  're  all  right.'  They  started 
at  onee,  picking  up  some  of  our  wounded  as  they  went" — Private  Letter. 

"Lieutenant  Glisan,  Sergeant  Critchell,  and  some  more  Company  A 
boys,  with  one  or  two  from  the  First  Ohio,  turned  the  captured  guns  on 
the  flying  rebels,  and  used  up  the  few  rounds  of  shot  and  shell  they  found 
left  in  the  caissons,  in  a  hurry.  Critchell  was  '  number  one,'  and  somebody 
else,  with  an  old  sock  wrapped  round  his  thumb,  was  '  thumb-man.'  Ha- 
zen,  who  had  brought  his  pockets  full  of  friction-primers  from  the  base  of 
the  ridge,  jumped  off  his  horse  and  helped  them  sight  the  guns." — Memo 
randum. 

" '  Chickamauga ! '  rang  through  the  lines  when  our  men  at  last  closed 
in  on  them.  A  rebel  captain  was  captured  by  a  boy  of  our  regiment,  and, 
refusing  to  go  to  the  rear,  the  boy  pushed  him  up  on  the  breastworks,  and, 
with  a  kick  that  sent  him  headlong  down  the  hill,  shouted,  ' Chickamauga, 
G — d  d — n  you.'1  " — Newspaper  Paragraph,  from  a  Sixth  Ohio  Letter 


MISSIONAEY   RIDGE.  511 

1  was  ordered  to  advance  my  line,  and  ascertain  what  force  the 
enemy  had  in  their  works  at  the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge.  I  did 
so ;  and,  driving  the  enemy's  pickets  into  the  rifle-pits,  found  that 
only  a  small  force  occupied  them.  The  skirmishers  of  the  brigade 
on  my  left  fell  back  (having  been  ordered  to  do  so),  which  obliged 
me  to  retire  my  line,  and  occupy  the  edge  of  the  woods  through 
which  I  had  before  passed.  At  this  time  Major  Erwin  was  struck 
by  a  piece  of  shell,  and  instantly  killed.  In  the  death  of  this 
valuable  officer,  the  regiment  suffered  a  heavy  loss,  his  bravery 
and  efficiency  having  endeared  him  to  all.  Between  two  and 
three  o'clock  P.  M.,  my  command  was  relieved  by  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  returned  to  our  line  of  works. 
[The  Twenty-third  Kentucky  now  took  its  proper  place  in  an 
other  part  of  the  line.]  Soon  afterward,  the  Sixth  Kentucky, 
Major  Whitaker  commanding,  reported  to  me,  and  I  was  assigned 
a  position  on  the  left  of  the  first  line  of  battle.  At  the  signal 
for  the  advance,  the  line  moved  forward,  and  my  regiment  gained 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  with  the  remainder  of  the  brigade.  I  am 
pleased  to  say  that  every  man  and  officer  of  my  command,  without 
exception,  did  his  whole  duty.  To  Major  Whitaker,  of  the  Sixth 
Kentucky,  I  am  indebted  for  the  aid  he  rendered  me  in  the  ad 
vance  on  the  ridge.  Attached,  I  forward  a  list  of  the  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  during  these  engagements. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  etc., 

A.  C.  CHRISTOPHER, 

Lieutenant- Colonel  Sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  commanding  Regiment. 

Major  Samuel  Carrick  Erwin,  whose  name  heads  the  casu 
alty  list  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  at  Missionary  Ridge,  was  born  in 
Alleghany  County,  Penn.,  on  the  21st  of  April,  1825;  but 
for  many  years  prior  to  the  rebellion  was  a  resident  of  Cin 
cinnati,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  hat  and  fur  business. 
From  his  boyhood  he  evinced  a  decided  taste  for  military  ex 
ercises;  and,  when  the  war  broke  out,  was  one  of  the  first  to 


512  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

set  about  raising  a  company  for  the  Sixth  Ohio,  as  it  afterward 
became,  having  then  been  a  member  of  the  Guthrie  Greys 
for  several  years.  His  valuable  and  varied  services  in  the 
field,  his  wounding  before  Corinth,  his  promotion  to  the  ma- 
jorship  of  the  regiment,  and  the  circumstances  of  his  death, 
have  all  been  related  in  their  proper  connections,  and  nothing 
remains  to  be  added  here,  save  to  mention  the  high  and  daunt 
less  courage  which  seemed  to  render  him  absolutely  incapable 
of  fear.  "In  a  regiment  where  there  are  no  cowards/'  writes 
one  of  his  brother  officers,  "Major  Erwin's  bravery  was  pre 
eminent;"  and  every  soldier  who  knew  him,  whether  in  his 
own  command  or  out  of  it,  will  attest  the  justice  of  this 
tribute. 

CASUALTIES  OF  THE   SIXTH  OHIO. 

The  Sixth  Ohio  advanced  under  fire,  on  the  23d  of  Novem 
ber,  with  an  aggregate  strength  of  265  combatants,  including 
officers.  Of  this  number  there  were  killed,  5 ;  mortally 
wounded,  5 ;  wounded,  but  not  mortally,  20  ;  and  missing, 
5 — making  a  total  of  35,  as  follows.  Nearly  all  these  casual 
ties  occurred  on  the  25th : 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. — Killed — Major  Erwin. 

COMPANY  A. — Mortally  wounded — Private  Edward  B.  O'Brien. 
Wounded — Sergeant  Robert  G.  Delaney. 

COMPANY  B. —  Wounded — First  Sergeant  George  B.  Young,  and 
privates  Henry  Kiess  and  Moses  Thanhauser.  Missing — Private 
Benjamin  F.  Lewis. 

COMPANY  C. — Mortally  wounded — Private  Wm.  Schoch.  Wound 
ed — Sergeant  John  C.  Pope. 

COMPANY  D. — Killed — Corporal  Augustus  Gr.  Young,  and  pri 
vate  Joseph  Imm.  Mortally  wounded — Simon  Weeks.  Wounded — 
Privates  George  F.  Mosher  and  Martin  Wiederecht. 

COMPANY  E. —  Wounded — First  Sergeant  Abram  R  Lemmon, 


MISSIONARY   RIDGE. 


513 


Corporal  Alex.  Rigler,  and  privates  George  W.  Bowen  and  John 
C.  Speidel. 

COMPANY  F. — Killed — Private  Joseph  Toomeyer.  Wounded — 
Captain  Thatcher  and  Corporal  Thomas  B.  Manning. 

COMPANY  G. —  Wounded — Private  George  W.  Rush.  Missing — 
Corporal  George  W.  J.  Miller,  and  privates  Charles  Boutwell, 
Wm.  W.  Garrard,  and  Wm.  B.  Rowe  (died  in  rebel  prison). 

COMPANY  H. — Killed — Private  Valentine  Merdian.  Mortally 
wounded — Private  Benjamin  Worrell.  Wounded — Privates  George 
W.  Whistler  and  Joseph  Chlor. 

COMPANY  I. — Mortally  wounded — Private  Marx  Essinger.  Wound 
ed — Corporal  Henry  Harinyer. 

COMPANY  K. —  Wounded — Sergeant  Wm.  S.  Squires,  and  privates 
Charles  Warner  and  Frederick  Wehking. 

RECAPITULATION. 


32 

3 

o 

o 
p 

W 

o 
o 

G 

9 

b 

? 

§ 

? 

P 

9 
w 

9 

P 

I 

Killed 

1 

9 

i 

i 

5 

Mortally  wound'd 

1 

1 

1 

-, 

1 

5 

1 

3 

1 

2 

4 

9, 

1 

2 

1 

r^ 

1 

5 

Total.  . 

1 

2 

4 

2 

5 

4 

3 

5 

4 

2 

3 

35 

GENERAL  HAZEN'S  OFFICIAL  REPORT. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION,  FOURTH  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
IN  CAMP  NEAR  KNOXVILLE,  TENNESSEE,  December  10,  1863.          J 

Assistant  Adjutant- General  Third  Division,  Fourth  Corps,  present — 

SIR:  .  . •  -i  At  12  M.,  November  23d,  I  received  orders  to 
form  my  brigade  near  Fort  Wood,  and  hold  it  in  readiness  to 
move  in  the  direction  of  Mission  Ridge  (south-easterly),  with  the 
remainder  of  the  division,  on  a  reconnoissance.  The  position  as 
signed  me  was  on  the  right  of  the  front  line.  The  brigade  was 
formed  in  five  battalions,  as  follows  : 

First  Battalion — Colonel  Aquila  Wiley,  Forty-first  Ohio  Yolun- 
33 


514  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

teer  Infantry,  commanding,  was  composed  of  the  following  regiments, 
namely:  Forty-first  Ohio,  Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  L.  Kimberly ; 
and  Ninety-third  Ohio,  Major  William  Birch.  Second  Battalion — 
Colonel  W.  W.  Berry,  Fifth  Kentucky  Volunteer  Infantry,  com 
manding  ;  of  the  Fifth  Kentucky,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  L.  Craiuor, 
and  Sixth  Kentucky,  Major  R.  T.  Whitaker.  Third  Battalion — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  E.  B.  Langdon,  First  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
commanding;  of  the  First  Ohio,  Major  J.  A.  Stafford,  and  Twenty- 
third  Kentucky,  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  C.  Foy.  Fourth  Bat 
talion — Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Pickauds,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  commanding;  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  Major  J.  B.  Hampson, 
and  Sixth  Indiana,  Major  C.  D.  Campbell.  Fifth  Battalion — 
Sixth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  C.  Chris 
topher  commanding.  In  all,  2,256  effective  officers  and  men. 

The  first  and  third  battalions  were  deployed  in  the  front  line, 
and  the  fourth  and  fifth  were  formed  in  double  column  in  the 
second  line.  The  second  battalion  was  on  picket,  and  in  position 
to  be  used  as  skirmishers.  The  whole  battalion  was  deployed  as 
such;  and,  at  the  sound  of  the  bugle,  at  2  P.  M.,  the  entire  bri 
gade  moved  forward  in  exact  order,  and  in  two  minutes  the  skir 
mish  line  was  sharply  engaged  with  that  of  the  enemy,  who  gave 
ground  after  firing  their  pieces,  and  no  considerable  opposition 
was  afterward  felt  until  we  reached  their  first  line  of  rifle-pits, 
about  one-half  mile  to  the  rear  of  their  picket-line,  where  the 
pickets  and  their  reserves  endeavored  to  check  our  advance ;  but, 
pushing  forward  the  first  battalion — that  being  immediately  in 
front  of  their  principal  force — the  work,  situated  on  a  rocky  hill, 
was  carried  in  the  most  handsome  manner,  the  regiment  which 
was  holding  it,  the  Twenty-eighth  Alabama,  being  captured  almost 
entire,  with  their  colors.  This  was  not  accomplished,  however, 
without  serious  cost  to  the  Forty-first  and  Ninety-third  Ohio. 
Major  Birch,  leading  the  latter,  fell  here ;  and,  also,  eleven  of  his 
men  killed,  and  forty-eight  wounded.  The  Forty-first  Ohio  lost 


MISSIONARY    RIDGE.  515 

eleven  men  killed,  and  fifty-two  wounded.  Colonel  Wiley  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Kimberly,  of  that  regiment,  each  had  horses 
killed  under  them  ;  and  Colonel  Berry,  commanding  the  skirmish 
ers,  was  struck  twice.  The  position  was  actually  carried  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  the  enemy  being  captured  behind  their  work 
by  the  men  leaping  over  it.  During  the  last  half-mile  of  the  ad 
vance,  my  right  was  entirely  exposed,  and  suffered  severely  from 
an  enfilading  fire  of  the  enemy. 

The  night  of  the  23d  was  employed  in  strengthening  our  posi 
tion  by  works,  and  the  24th  was  passed  without  engaging  the 
enemy. 

At  about  11  A.  M.,  on  the  25th,  I  was  ordered  to  advance  my 
skirmish  line  sufficiently  to  develop  the  enemy's  strength  behind 
his  main  line  of  breastworks  at  the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge,  about 
one  mile  in  our  front.  This  was  handsomely  done  under  the  im 
mediate  direction  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher,  Sixth  Ohio 
Infantry.  In  this  advance,  Major  S.  C.  Erwin,  Sixth  Ohio,  was 
killed  by  a  shell,  and  eight  or  ten  others  killed  and  wounded. 
At  about  3  P.  M.,  I  received  orders  to  move  forward  with  the 
remainder  of  the  division,  take  possession  of  the  enemy's  works 
at  the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge,  taking  cover  behind  them,  and  there 
await  further  orders.  The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 
was  on  picket,  and  used  as  skirmishers.  The  other  formations  of 
battalions  were  similar  to  those  of  the  23d  instant,  except  that 
the  Sixth  Kentucky,  reporting  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher, 
acted  with  the  fifth  battalion,  and  the  Sixth  Indiana  acted  with 
the  second.  Both  lines  were  deployed — the  third  and  fifth  bat 
talions  forming  the  first  line,  and  the  first  and  second  buttulions 
the  second.  At  the  signal  the  brigade  moved  forward,  and,  simul 
taneously,  a  fire  from  at  least  fifty  pieces  of  artillery  was  poured 
upon  us  from  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge.  We  moved  in  good 
order,  at  a  rapid  step,  under  this  appalling  fire,  to  the  enemy's 
works — which  were  situated  about  three  hundred  yards  below, 
and  toward  Chattanooga  from,  the  crest  of  the  ridge — the  enemy 


516  THE   STOKY   OF   A   EEGIME]S'T. 

fleeing  from  these  works  at  our  approach.  On  reaching  the  ene 
my's  works  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  command  covered  itself,  as 
ordered,  on  the  reverse  side,  as  best  it  could,  but  very  imperfectly, 
because  so  near,  and  so  much  below,  the  crest  of  the  ridge.  The 
musketry  fire  from  the  crest  was  now  telling  severely  upon  us, 
and  the  crest  presenting  its  concavity  toward  us,  we  were  com 
pletely  enfiladed  by  artillery  from  both  flanks.  The  position  was 
a  singular  one,  and  can  be  fully  understood  only  by  those  who 
occupied  it.  The  command  had  executed  its  orders,  and  to  re 
main  there  till  new  ones  could  be  sent  would  be  destruction ;  to 
fall  back  would  not  only  be  the  same,  but  would  entail  disgrace. 
On  commencing  the  advance,  the  thought  of  storming  Mission 
Ridge  had  not  entered  the  mind  of  any  one,  but  now  the  neces 
sity  was  apparent  to  every  soldier  of  the  command.  Giving  the 
men  about  five  minutes  to  breathe,  and  receiving  no  orders,  I  gave 
the  command,  "  Forward!"  which  was  eagerly  obeyed.  (The  forces 
of  General  Willich,  on  my  left,  had  commenced  the  movement 
somewhat  in  my  advance,  and  those  of  Major-General  Sheridan, 
on  my  right,  were  a  considerable  distance  in  my  rear.  In  my 
front  were  the  troops  of  General  Breckinridge,  forming  the  left 
of  the  enemy's  center.)  Not  much  regard  to  lines  could  be  ob 
served,  but  the  strong  men,  commanders,  and  color-bearers  took 
the  lead,  in  each  case  forming  the  apex  of  a  triangular  column 
of  men.  These  advanced  slowly,  but  confidently — no  amount  of 
fire  from  the  crest  checking  them.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Langdon, 
of  the  First  Ohio,  gaining  a  position  where  the  conformation  of 
the  hill  gave  cover  till  within  three  yards  of  the  crest,  formed 
several  hundred  men  there,  checking  the  head  for  that  purpose, 
then  gave  the  command,  and  the  column  broke  over  the  crest,  the 
enemy  fleeing.  These  were  the  first  men  of  the  entire  army  on 
the  hill ;  and  my  command,  moving  up  with  a  shout,  its  entire 
front  was  handsomely  carried.  The  troops  on  my  immediate  left 
were  still  held  in  check,  and  those  on  my  right  were  not  more 
than  half-way  up  the  hill,  and  were  being  successfully  held  back. 


MISSIONARY    RIDGE.  517 

Hurrying  my  men  to  the  right  and  left  along  the  crest,  I  was 
enabled  to  take  the  enemy  in  flank  and  reverse  ;  and,  by  vigor 
ously  using  the  artillery  captured  there,  I  soon  relieved  my  neigh 
bors,  and  carried  the  crest  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  Bragg's 
head-quarters,  he  himself  escaping  by  flight,  being  at  one  time 
near  my  right,  encouraging  the  troops  that  had  checked  Sheri 
dan's  left. 

The  heroism  of  the  entire  command  in  this  engagement  merits 
the  highest  praise  of  the  country.  Colonel  Aquila  Wiley,  Forty- 
first  Ohio,  commanding  the  first  battalion,  was  shot  through  the 
leg,  making  amputation  necessary.  The  loss  to  the  service  of  this 
officer  can  not  be  properly  estimated.  .  .  .  The  services  and 
losses  of  his  battalion,  composed  of  the  Forty-first  and  Ninety- 
third  Ohio,  also  stand  conspicuous.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Langdon, 
First  Ohio  Infantry,  commanding  the  third  battalion,  was  shot 
through  the  face  just  as  he  had  reached  the  top  of  the  hill ;  and, 
after  lying  prostrate  from  the  wound,  again  moved  forward,  cheer 
ing  his  men.  [General  Hazen  then  recommends  the  promotion 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Langdon,  as  also  of  Colonel  Wiley,  to  the 
grade  of  brigadier-general ;  makes  honorable  mention,  and  similar 
recommendation,  in  the  case  of  Colonel  Berry,  Fifth  Kentucky; 
and  compliments  Lieutenant-Colonel  Kimberly  for  the  manner  in 
which  he  led  the  first  battalion  after  Colonel  Wiley's  fall.]  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Christopher,  Sixth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Pickands,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  com 
manding  battalions,  rendered  valuable  and  meritorious  service. 
[After  praising  the  gallant  performances  of  Corporals  Kramer  and 
Angelbe,ck,  Company  I,  Forty-first  Ohio,  and  Sergeant  Sutphin, 
Company  D,  Ninety-third  Ohio,  and  naming  six  different  officers 
and  men  who  carried  the  colors  of  the  First  Ohio,  as  they  were 
successively  shot  down,  General  Hazen  proceeds:]  The  foregoing 
are  but  a  few  of  the  many  instances  of  heroism  displayed  on  this 
occasion  that  are  worthy  of  special  mention.  Major  William 
Birch,  Ninety-third  Ohio,  and  Major  S.  C.  Erwin,  Sixth  Ohio, 


518 


THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMEXT. 


who  fell  while  bravely  leading  their  men,  were  soldiers  of  rare 
efficiency,  and  their  loss  will  be  severely  felt  by  the  service,  and 
deeply  lamented  by  their  friends.  My  entire  staff,  as  has  always 
been  the  case  in  the  numerous  battles  in  which  they  have  been 
engaged,  conducted  themselves  with  the  greatest  bravery  and  use 
fulness. 

In  summing  up  the  operations  of  the  23d  and  25th,  I  have  to 
report  the  capture  of  three  hundred  and  eighty-two  prisoners, 
besides  a  large  number  of  wounded;  two  stands  of  colors;  eight 
een  pieces  of  artillery,  with  their  appendages  [or  sixteen  pieces, 
without  including  two  that  were  also  claimed  by  General  Willich]; 
six  hundred  and  fifty  stand  of  small  arms;  eleven  loaded  wag 
ons,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  clothing,  camp,  and  garrison 
equipage.  Forty-nine  of  the  enemy,  including  one  colonel,  were 
buried  by  my  parties.  .  .  .  My  entire  casualties  are  as  fol 
lows  : 


REGIMENTS. 

OFFICERS. 

MEN. 

! 

Wounded. 

Killed  

Wounded. 

Missing  .... 

1 

Forty-first  Ohio  

i 

2 
1 
1 
1 

5 

6 
4 
2 
3 
2 
3 
4 
1 

17 
8 
10 
5 
5 
9 
13 
19 

65 
46 
64 
26 
18 
34 
60 
64 
22 

2 

88 
62 
79 
39 
29 
45 
76 
88 
23 

Fifth  Kentucky  

First  Ohio           

Sixth  Ohio  

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Ohio 
Twenty-third  Kentucky            .  . 

Sixth  Indiana    

Ninety-third  Ohio            .  .        

1 

Sixth  Kentucky 

Total  

7 

30 

86 

399 

7 

529 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  etc., 


W.  B.  HAZEN, 

Brigadier-  General. 


EAST   TENNESSEE.  519 


i 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 
EAST    TENNESSEE. 

(NOVEMBER  28,  1863-APRIL  16,  1864.) 

MMEDIATELY  after  routing  Bragg,  and  while  a  portion 
of  his  army  was  still  engaged  in  pressing  the  pursuit  almost 
to  Tunnel  Hill,  Grant  ordered  Granger's  corps  and  General 
Sherman's  command  (which,  at  this  time,  included  Howard's 
corps,  and  Jeff.  C.  Davis'  division  of  Palmer's  corps)  to  march 
to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  with  all  possible  speed.  Wood's 
division  returned  to  Chattanooga  on  the  evening  of  November 
26th,  and  at  3  P.  M.,  on  the  28th,  took  up  its  line  of  march, 
with  no  baggage,  and  but  one  wagon  to  a* regiment.  The 
Sixth  Ohio  and  Sixth  Kentucky  continued  in  the  same  "bat 
talion,"  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  Christopher. 
Captains  Getty  and  Southgate,  and  Lieutenants  Meline  and 
Lewis,  were  left  at  Chattanooga,  sick,  as  was  Lieutenant  Good- 
nough  also,  in  charge  of  the  regimental  baggage.  Captain 
Thatcher  had  been  granted  leave  of  absence  on  account  of 
wounds,  and  Company  F,  for  the  next  month,  wras  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Kestner.  The  weather  was  cold  and 
wintry. 

On  the  28th,  the  division  marched  five  miles;  on  the  29th, 
fourteen  miles,  crossing  the  Chickamauga  on  pontoons,  and 
encamping  just  beyond  Harrison;  on  the  30th,  twenty-four 


520  THE   STOEY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

miles,  passing  through   the  loyal  village  of  Georgetown;  on 
the  1st  of  December,  two  miles  to  the  Hiawassee  River,  over 
which  the  troops  were  ferried   by  the   little  steamer  "  Paint 
Bock;"  on   the  2d,  twenty-two  miles,  through  Decatur,  and 
eight  miles  beyond,  much  of  the  distance  over  very  bad  roads; 
on  the  3d,  seventeen  miles,  by  a  tedious  march  of   fourteen 
hours'  duration,  to  Sweetwater,  where  the  rebels  had  destroyed 
the  bridge  over  Sweetwater  Creek,  and  the  troops  crossed,  in 
single  file,  upon   logs;    on  the   4th,  fifteen   miles,  the  Sixth 
Ohio  passing  the  night  on  picket ;  on  the  5th,  fifteen  miles, 
crossing  the  Little  Tennessee  on  a  trestle-bridge,  and  passing 
through  Morgantown ;  on  the  6th,  ten  miles,  passing  through, 
and  five  miles  beyond,  Marysville,  where  news  was  received 
that  Longstreet  had  retreated,  and  all  was  well  at  Knoxville; 
and  on  the  7th,  twelve  miles,  crossing  Little  River  on  a  raft- 
bridge,  at  Rockford,  and  encamping  one  and  a  half  miles  from 
Knoxville,  a  short  distance  outside  of  Burnside's  fortifications. 
Sherman's  forces  had  halted  at  Marysville,  and,  in  a  day  or 
two,  began  retracing  their  steps  toward  Chattanooga,  but  the 
Fourth   Corps   was    ordered    to   remain   in   East    Tennessee. 
Four  miserable  months  followed.    Living  from  hand  to  mouth 
on  half-rations,  or  none  at  all — eked  out,  or  replaced,  by  such 
scanty  supplies  as  could  be  gathered  in  those  war-wasted  re 
gions — scarcely  half-clad,  and  most  of  the  time  without  any 
baggage,  even  their  knapsacks,  the  troops  were  kept  marching 
and  countermarching,  in  a  state  of  perpetual  worry,  on  account 
of  Longstreet's  badgerings.     The  Sixth  Ohio's  service  in  East 
Tennessee  was  attended  with  more  of  hardship  and  privation 
than  the  regiment  ever  underwent  elsewhere. 

At  daylight,  on  the  12th  of  December,  the  Sixth  Ohio  went 
on  picket,  relieving  the  Twenty-third  Kentucky,  and  passed 
an  uncomfortable  night  in  the  rain;  on  the  13th,  was  relieved 


EAST   TENNESSEE.  521 

by  the  Ninety-third  Ohio;  on  the  14th,  re-arranged  camp  and 
had  battalion  drill;  on  the  afternoon  of  the  15th,  marched 
with  the  division  through  Knoxville,  and  three  miles  beyond ; 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  by  a  rapid  march  of  fifteen 
miles,  reached  Blain's  Cross-roads,  near  which  sharp  fighting 
wras  in  progress.  Lieutenant  Slanker  was  left  in  Knoxville, 
sick.  On  the  17th,  Hazen's  brigade  changed  camp  one  mile, 
to  a  gap  in  the  Clinch  Mountains.  At  7  P.  M.,  on  the  18th, 
the  Sixth  Ohio  was  ordered  out  on  picket,  and  there  remained 
for  two  days,  the  weather  being. cold,  with  high  winds.  "A 
small  lot  of  clothing  was  issued  the  men,"  says  a  diary,  under 
date  of  the  20th,  "and  they  are  now  a  little  more  com 
fortable.  Still  no  mail  for  the  Sixth  Ohio.  We  might  as  well 
be  in  Australia."  For  several  weeks  after  this  date,  the  ques 
tion  of  "  veteranizing  "  was  much  discussed  among  all  the  old 
regiments  in  East  Tennessee,  and  a  considerable  number  of 
them  reenlisted,  and  went  home  on  thirty  days7  furlough  to 
reorganize.  The  Sixth  Ohio,  like  its  old  comrades  of  the 
Ninth  and  Tenth,  and  many  other  regiments  among  the  best 
in  service,  decided  not  to  "  veteranize." 

The  last  few  days  of  1863  were  bright  and  pleasant,  but 
the  new  year  came  in  bitterly  cold.  Says  a  diary  :  "  We  have 
to  hang  around  our  green  pine  fires  so  much,  in  order  to  keep 
from  freezing,  that  my  eyes  are  completely  sore.  All  hands 
will  soon  be  the  color  of  parchment,  by  reason  of  the  smoke. 
We  are  still  on  two-thirds7  rations,  the  meat  part  of  which  is 
principally  very  lean  mutton.  No  signs  of  our  baggage  yet." 
On  the  5th  of  January,  Second  Lieutenant  La  Bille — who 
was  soon  afterward  promoted  to  first  lieutenant — rejoined  the 
regiment  from  absence  on  sick  leave,  and  assumed  command 
of  Company  F,  Lieutenant  Kestner  thereupon  taking  com 
mand  of  Company  C.  On  the  8th — a  cold,  wintry  day — the 


522  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Sixth  Ohio  was  on  picket  on  the  Cumberland  Gap  road;  on 
the  10th,  it  changed  camp;  and  on  the  llth  received  another 
small  supply  of  clothing.  On  the  14th,  the  division  marched 
seventeen  miles,  over  roads  in  terrible  condition  from  a  sud 
den  thaw,  crossing  the  Holston  River,  on  the  railroad  bridge, 
at  Strawberry  Plains.  At  the  latter  place,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
was  rejoined  by  Captain  Getty,  and  Lieutenants  Meline,  Cor- 
many,  and  Lewis,  who  had  just  come  up  from  Chattanooga, 
with  a  detachment  of  convalescents  and  a  large  wagon  train. 
Wheeler's  cavalry  attacked  their  party  at  Charleston,  but  were 
handsomely  repulsed,  with  loss.  Lieutenant  Meline,  who  had 
lately  been  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  resumed  command 
of  Company  H,  as  did  Lieutenant  Lewis  that  of  Company  I. 
On  the  15th,  Colonel  Anderson  rejoined  the  regiment,  and  the 
same  morning  the  division  made  a  march  of  eight  miles  before 
seven  o'clock,  encamping  at  Dandridge,  a  pretty  little  town 
on  the  French  Broad  River.  The  wagons  were  sticking  in 
the  mud  all  the  way  back  to  Strawberry  Plains,  and  many  of 
the  men  had  no  suppers  in  consequence.  On  the  evening  of 
the  16th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  sent  out  on  reserve  picket,  skir 
mishing  having  been  in  progress  on  the  front  all  day. 

"About  the  hour  of  retreat  on  the  17th,"  says  a  letter,  "the 
rebels  attacked  our  outposts,  and,  after  sharp  skirmishing,  finally 
drove  them.  At  dark  we  were  notified  that  a  retreat  would 
be  commenced  during  the  night,  and  were  ordered  to  destroy 
such  articles  as  we  could  not  carry,  but  not  to  burn  any  thing 
that  would  make  a  blaze.  Accordingly,  I  cut  up  a  pair  of 
shoes,  mashed  in  a  camp-kettle,  and  threw  a  gourd-full  of  soft 
soap  on  the  ground.  Expecting  every  minute  to  be  called  into 
line,  we  did  not  go  to  bed  at  all ;  but  it  took  so  long  to  move 
the  train,  that  our  brigade  did  not  start  until  3  A.  M.  (on  the 
18th).  The  roads  were  horrible.  A  dreary  rain  soon  began 


EAST   TENNESSEE.  523 

falling,  and  our  progress  was  rendered  slow  and  laborious  in 
the  extreme.  Several  wagons  were  burned,  as  the  mules  gave 
out.  After  marching  all  day,  until  5  P.  M.,  we  went  into 
camp  five  miles  south-east  of  Strawberry  Plains,  and  fifteen 
miles  from  Dandridge.  Six  miles  from  the  latter  place,  rebel 
cavalry  overtook  us,  and  heavy  skirmishing  ensued.  The 
Sixth  Ohio  was  ordered  to  load,  but  was  not  actively  engaged ; 
nevertheless,  three  or  four  of  our  men  were  cut  off  and  cap 
tured.  [Among  this  number  were  privates  Cohagen  and  Sh el- 
ton,  of  Company  K.]  The  rumor  about  this  movement  is, 
that  Longstreet's  and  EwelFs  corps  are  both  massed  on  our 
front,  and  that  our  forces  at  Newmarket,  having  been  driven 
back,  we  were  liable  to  be  flanked,  and,  perhaps,  cut  off. 
Take  it  as  a  whole,  our  Dandridge  expedition  was  a  miserable 
failure." 

Wood's  division,  being  now  ordered  to  Knoxville,  passed 
the  next  five  weeks  in  guarding  the  approaches  to  that  place 
from  the  south,  and  protecting  the  railroad  toward  Loudon. 
On  the  19th  (of  January),  it  marched  eight  miles,  encamping 
three  miles  beyond  the  Strawberry  Plains  bridge ;  on  the  20th, 
five  miles,  or  to  within  nine  miles  of  Knoxville ;  on  fhe  21st, 
nine  miles,  crossing  the  Holston  River  on  pontoons;  and  on 
the  23d,  ten  miles,  passing  through  Knoxville.  On  the  24th, 
the  Sixth  Ohio  marched  six  miles,  to  Campbell's  Station — 
fourteen  miles  from  Knoxville — and  there,  during  the  next 
four  days,  constructed  a  stockade  fort.  On  the  27th,  Com 
pany  D  was  sent  to  garrison  Concord,  a  little  station  on  the 
railroad,  two  miles  from  Campbell's.  On  the  30th,  the  regi 
ment  was  relieved  by  a  wing  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twen 
ty-fourth  Ohio ;  and,  by  a  march  of  nine  miles,  rejoined  the 
brigade  at  Lenoir's  Station,  on  the  railroad,  where  it  next  day 
began  building  log-quarters. 


524  THE   STORY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  the  brigade  marched  three  miles 
toward  Knoxville ;  then  countermarched,  and  returned  to 
Lenoir's.  Regular  drills  were  resumed  a  day  or  two  later, 
but  the  men  were  too  ragged  for  dress  parade.  On  the  llth, 
the  Sixth  Ohio  received  a  portion  of  its  baggage  from  Chat 
tanooga,  and  was  thus  made  a  little  more  comfortable.  On 
the  16th,  the  brigade  marched  twenty-one  miles,  or  to  within 
one  and  a  half  miles  of  Knoxville.  The  night  was  very  cold, 
and  wood  scarce,  excepting  green  pine.  Next  morning  the 
regiment  moved  camp,  where  wood  was  more  plenty ;  and, 
on  the  18th,  was  sent  on  picket.  Snow  began  falling  soon 
after  daylight  on  the  latter  date,  but  the  weather  was  too 
cold  for  much  of.  a  snow-storm.  This  day,  Lieutenant  Boice 
rejoined  the  regiment  from  duty  on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Grose; 
and  on  the  19th,  Captain  Montagnier  was  honorably  dis 
charged,  by  order  of  the  War  Department,  on  account  of 
physical  disability,  arising  from  wounds  received  in  action,  as 
Captain  Oilman  had  been  also,  on  the  26th  of  December, 
1863.  Both  of  the  officers  whom  the  Sixth  Ohio  and  the 
service  thus  had  the  misfortune  to  lose,  are  now  living  in  Cin 
cinnati.  Lieutenant  Irwin,  who  was  honorably  discharged  on 
the  29th  of  January,  also  returned  to  Cincinnati,  but  is  now 
dead.  On  the  20th  of  February,  the  brigade  was  inspected 
by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Comstock,  of  General  Grant's  staff,  and 
the  Sixth  Ohio  was  paid  for  the  last  two  months  of  1863. 
On  the  22d,  after  dark,  the  brigade  set  out  on  a  rapid  march 
to  attack  a  body  of  rebels  at  Shuck's  Gap,  about  twelve  miles 
south-east  of  Knoxville.  That  night  it  crossed  the  Holston, 
and  marched  four  and  a  half  miles;  resumed  the  journey  at 
1  A.  M.,  on  the  23d,  but  found  the  enemy  gone,  and  returned 
at  dark,  after  a  hard  march  of  twenty  miles. 

Longstreet  now  being  reported   falling  back  toward  Vir- 


EAST   TENNESSEE.  525 

ginia,  a  general  advance  of  all  the  troops  about  Ivnoxville 
immediately  followed.  On  the  24th,  Wood's  division  marched 
nineteen  miles,  passing  through  Knoxville;  and  on  the  27th, 
three  miles  further,  to  a  short  distance  beyond  Strawberry 
Plains.  At  the  latter  place,  it  crossed  the  Holston  on  boats, 
the  Union  troops  having  destroyed  the  railroad  bridge,  in  or 
der  to  retard  Longstreet's  advance,  a  month  before.  On  the 
26th,  Major  Bense — promoted  to  that  grade  during  January, 
and  now  recovered  from  his  wounds — rejoined  the  regiment, 
as  did  Lieutenant  Blanker  also.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
28th,  the  division  marched  nine  miles,  passing  through,  and 
one  mile  beyond,  New  Market ;  and  on  the  29th,  through  a 
cold  rain,  and  over  wretched  roads,  eighteen  miles,  to  Morris- 
town,  six  miles  beyond  which  place  a  division  of  rebel  infan 
try  was  discovered.  On  the  2d  of  March,  it  retraced  its  steps 
a  distance  of  seventeen  miles,  and  went  into  what  proved  a 
ten  days'  camp,  near  New  Market.  "  Longstreet  is  again  re 
ported  advancing,"  says  an  officer's  diary,  "but  I  don't  be 
lieve  it.  The  Army  of  the  Ohio  appears  to  have  a  great  dread 
of  him."  On  the  evening  of  the  5th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  sent 
on  picket. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  General  Hazen  started  home  on  leave 
of  absence,  leaving  the  brigade  in  charge  of  Colonel  Ander 
son,  who  commanded  it  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  for  six  weeks 
thenceforward.  Next  day,  Lieutenant  Goodnough  was  ap 
pointed  provost  marshal  of  the  brigade,  being  succeeded  as 
acting  regimental  quartermaster  by  Lieutenant  Slanker.  The 
latter  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy  in  April,  and  im 
mediately  appointed  to  the  position  whose  duties  he  was  al 
ready  discharging.  On  the  8th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  received  the 
remainder  of  its  baggage  from  Chattanooga;  and  on  the  llth — 
being  then  on  picket — a  partial  supply  of  clothing.  On  the 


526  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

12th,  the  division  marched  thirteen  miles,  to  Panther  Springs, 
and  next  day  five  miles  further,  to  Morristown,  where  desul 
tory  skirmishing  was  kept  up  for  two  or  three  days.  On  the 
15th,  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  detailed  for  a  two  days'  tour  of  out 
post  duty,  during  which  the  rebels  in  front  fell  back.  On  the 
18th — a  windy,  March  day,  with  the  dust  flying  in  clouds — 
the  division  made  a  rapid  march  of  seventeen  miles,  to  Kew 
Market;  on  the  19th,  ten  miles,  to  within  two  miles  of  Straw 
berry  Plains,  the  Sixth  Ohio  passing  the  night  on  picket ;  on 
the  20th,  nine  miles,  leaving  Willich's  brigade  at  Strawberry 
Plains;  and  on  the  21st,  nine  miles  more,  to  Eutledge.  Four 
inches  of  snow  fell  on  the  22d;  but  melted  next  day.  On  the 
24th,  the  division  marched  nine  miles,  to  Powder  Spring 
Gap;  on  the  26th,  returned  to  Rutledge,  where  the  Sixth 
Ohio  was  immediately  sent  on  picket;  on  the  27th,  fourteen 
miles — nine  miles  to  Bean's  Station  (wheuce  the  cavalry  were 
sent  on  a  reconnoissance  six  or  eight  miles  further),  and  a 
countermarch  of  five  miles;  and  on  the  28th,  thirteen  miles 
back  to  Powder  Spring  Gap.  On  the  30th,  First  Sergeant 
Price,  of  Company  G,  W7ho  was  captured  at  Chickamauga,  re 
turned  to  the  regiment,  having,  several  weeks  before,  succeeded 
in  making  his  escape  from  Danville,  North  Carolina,  and  gaining 
the  Union  lines  in  safety  at  Fayetteville,  West  Virginia.  His 
perilous  journey,  of  between  three  and  four  hundred  miles,  in 
midwinter,  through  a  country  swarming  with  Confederate 
"  patrols/'  consumed  twenty-two  days — or,  rather,  nights — 
and  led  over  numerous  rivers  and  creeks  and  several  ranges 
of  mountains.  At  Cincinnati,  he  was  granted  thirty  days' 
furlough,  which,  at  the  date  above  given,  had  just  expired.* 

*  Sergeant  Price  was  one  of  four  "Yankee"  non-commissioned  officers 
sent  from  Richmond  to  Danville,  for  the  purpose  of  distributing  Govern 
ment  clothing  to  eight  thousand  Union  prisoners  there  confined.  His  MS. 


EAST   TENNESSEE.  527 

On  the  1st  of  April,  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  make  a 
reconnoissance,  and  marched  nine  miles  to  Rutledge,  in  the 
rain.  Next  morning,  at  daylight,  part  of  the  brigade  was 
sent  out  on  the  Morristown  road  to  the  ford  over  Holston 
Itiver,  and  another  detachment  to  Bean's  Station.  The  Sixth 
Ohio  remained  on  picket  near  Rutledge,  where  the  whole  bri 
gade  re-assembled  during  the  afternoon,  without  having  seen 
any  enemy.  On  the  3d,  the  brigade  returned  to  Powder 
Spring  Gap,  nine  miles  distant;  and  next  day  learned  that 
BulPs  Gap,  an  important  position  eighteen  miles  beyond 
Morristown,  had  been  occupied  by  Union  troops.  Longstreet's 
withdrawal  from  East  Tennessee  was  now  an  assured  certainty. 
The  long  orphaned  Fourth  Corps  was  at  once  ordered  to 
rejoin  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland ;  and,  with  many  a 
"  Thank  God,  we  are  leaving  East  Tennessee ! "  turned  its 
footsteps  toward  Chattanooga. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  Wood's  division  marched  eleven  miles, 
encamping  two  miles  from  Strawberry  Plains,  and  received  a 
farewell  order  from  General  Schofield,  thanking  it  for  its  sol 
dierly  deportment  and  valuable  service  while  on  duty  in  the 
Department  of  the  Ohio;  on  the  7th  it  marched  nineteen  miles, 
passing  through  Knoxville  and  three  miles  beyond ;  on  the 
8th,  eight  miles  toward  Loudon ;  on  the  9th,  thirteen  miles, 
to  Lenoir's,  the  roads  being  in  very  bad  condition  from  an 
all-night's  rain;  and  on  the  10th,  seven  miles,  to  Loudon, 

narrative  is  one  of  exceeding  interest— a  model  of  circumstantiality,  direct 
ness,  and  candor — and  it  is  with  great  regret,  therefore,  that  the  writer 
finds  himself  compelled,  by  lack  of  space,  to  abandon  his  original  design 
of  giving  it  in  full  in  Part  II.  Private  Adam  Rohe,  of  Company  B,  who 
was  captured  on  the  18th  of  September,  1863,  made  his  escape  about  the 
same  time,  from  Salisbury,  passed  himself  off  as  one  of  John  Morgan's 
men,  and  finally  struck  the  Union  lines  at  a  point  somewhere  above  Knox 
ville. 


528  THE   STORY    OF   A    REGIMENT. 

where  three  battalions  of  Anderson's  (Hazen's)  brigade  were 
that  evening  ferried  across  the  Holston  on  scows,  the  remain 
der  of  the  division  following  as  rapidly  as  possible  during  the 
next  two  days.  On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Crainor's  battalion  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  started  to  the 
railroad,  to  take  cars  for  Cleveland,  but  found  the  trains  just 
withdrawn  from  that  portion  of  the  road,  for  service  in  accu 
mulating  supplies  at  Chattanooga.  Resuming  its  journey  at 
daylight  on  the  13th,  the  division  that  day  marched  thirteen 
miles,  to  Sweetwater,  where  the  Sixth  Ohio  was  sent  on  picket; 
on  the  14th,  eleven  miles,  to  Athens;  on  the  loth,  fifteen  miles, 
to  near  Charleston,  crossing  the  Hiawassee  on  a  pontoon  bridge; 
and  on  the  16th,  sixteen  miles,  passing  through  Cleveland,  and 
six  miles  beyond,  to  Drumgold's  Gap,  where  it  enjoyed  several 
days  of  needed  rest.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was  left  at  "  Tucker's 
Gap,"  four  and  a  half  miles  west  of -Cleveland,  and  about  the 
same  distance  from  McDonald's  Station,  on  the  railroad  to 
Chattanooga. 


CLEVELAND,    RESACA,   HOME,    AND    MUSTER-OUT.      529 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

CLEVELAND,   RESACA,  HOME,  AND  MUSTER-OUT. 

(APRIL  17-JUNE  23,  1864.) 

SPRING  had  now  returned  in  all  its  beauty  and  freshness, 
and  the  sixteen  days  which  the  Sixth  Ohio  passed  at 
Tucker's  Gap  were  pleasant  ones  indeed.  On  the  evening  of 
the  17th  of  April,  the  band  of  Colonel  Grose's  brigade  (now 
in  Cruft's  division  of  Palmer's  corps)  visited  the  camp  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio,  and  music  and  good-fellowship  ruled  the  hour. 
On  the  18th,  Colonel  Anderson  resumed  command  of  the  regi 
ment,  General  Hazen  having  returned  to  that  of  the  brigade, 
and  on  the  same  day  dress  parade  was  held  for  the  first  time 
since  before  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge.  Drills  were  also 
resumed.  On  the  19th,  the  promotions  were  announced  of 
Captain  West  (still  on  duty  with  the  Pioneer  Corps),  and  First 
Lieutenants  Graham  and  Lewis,  all  of  whom  were  re-assigned 
to  their  old  companies.  Captain  Shieffer,  also  promoted,  re 
joined  the  regiment  on  the  25th,  and  relieved  Lieutenant 
Glisan  of  the  command  of  Company  A.  At  the  date  last 
given,  Colonel  Grose  paid  the  Sixth  Ohio  a  visit,  and  in  accord 
ance  with  department  orders,  a  regimental  pioneer  corps  was 
organized,  composed  of  one  sergeant,  one  corporal,  and,  eight- 
teen  privates,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Goodnough.  On 
the  29th,  the  division  was  reviewed  by  General  Howard,  the 
34 


530  THE   STOKY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

new  commander  of  the  ^Fourth  Corps,  and  a  grand  spectacle 
was  presented  to  the  lookers-on. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  in  obedience  to  orders,  the  baggage  of 
the  entire  division  was  sent  to  Bridgeport,  each  regiment  being 
allowed  to  retain  but  one  wagon  for  transportation.  Sher 
man's  elaborate  preparations  being  completed,  his  magnificent 
army  of  one  hundred  thousand  veteran  troops  was  now  strip 
ping  for  the  campaign  against  Atlanta,  and,  as  it  proved,  for 
the  march  to  the  sea.  Quartermaster- Sergeant  Hannaford, 
with  Charles  D.  Martindale — long  the  prompt  and  efficient 
clerk  at  regimental  head-quarters — accompanied  the  Sixth 
Ohio's  baggage  to  the  rear,  and  had  the  care  of  it  until  it  was 
again  brought  to  the  regiment.  On  the  3d,  the  Sixth  Ohio 
changed  camp  four  and  a  half  miles  to  Cleveland,  which — in 
conjunction  with  the  Twenty-fifth  Illinois,  another  regiment 
whose  term  of  service  had  almost  expired — it  was  ordered  to 
garrison,  while  the  remainder  of  the  division  marched  against 
the  enemy  ensconced  behind  Rocky  Face  Ridge.  Colonel 
Anderson,  as  ranking  officer,  assumed  command  of  the  post. 
On  the  7th,  a  supply  of  clothing — enough,  at  last,  for  every 
need — was  issued  the  men,  and  the  condition  of  the  regiment 
was  now  most  excellent  in  every  respect.  Captain  Southgate, 
after  a  service  of  some  months  in  charge  of  a  convalescent  camp 
at  Chattanooga,  rejoined  the  regiment  at  this  date,  and  relieved 
Lieutenant  Kestner  of  the  command  of  Company  C.  On  the 
8th,  the  troops  received  intelligence  of  the  occupation  of  Tun 
nel  Hill,  and  the  enemy's  retrograde  movements  beyond.  On 
the  12th,  Major  Bense  was  sent  with  a  detachment  to  Red 
Clay,  to  look  after  some  guerrillas  reported  to  be  lurking  in 
that  vicinity.  Next  day  Colonel  Anderson  received  a  dispatch 
announcing  the  occupation  of  Dalton,  and  on  the  16th  another, 
bringing  similar  tidings  from  Resaca. 


CLEVELAND,    RESACA,    HOME,    AND    MUSTER-OUT.       531 

The  regiment  was  now  counting  by  days  the  brief  period 
which  it  yet  had  left  to  serve,  and  expected  to  remain  at  Cleve 
land  until  sent  home  for  muster-out,  but  on  the  17th  march 
ing  orders  came.  It  started  for  the  front  at  once,  marching 
that  day  nine  miles.  Captain  Schieffer,  still  unfit  for  field 
service,  was  obliged  to  go  to  Chattanooga.  On  the  18th,  the 
regiment  marched  twenty  miles  to  Dalton ;  on  the  19th,  six 
teen  miles  to  a  short  distance  beyond  Resaca ;  on  the  20th, 
twelve  miles,  passing  through  Calhoun ;  and  on  the  21st,  six 
teen  miles  to  Kingston,  where  the  Ninth  Ohio  was  met  on  its 
way  home.  Reporting  immediately  to  General  Thomas,  Colo 
nel  Anderson  was  ordered  to  return  to  Resaca,  there  to  remain 
until  June  6th,  when  the  regiment  would  be  "relieved  from 
duty  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  in  order  to  pro 
ceed  to  Ohio  for  muster-out  of  the  service."  On  the  22d,  the 
regiment  accordingly  took  cars  for  Resaca,  where,  with  the 
First  and  Second  Kentucky,  it  established  camp  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Oostanaula,  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge  at  that 
point.  On  the  23d,  the  Tenth  Ohio  passed  up,  on  its  way  home. 
The  First  Kentucky  followed  on  the  29th,  and  the  Second 
Kentucky  five  days  later.  Other  troops,  l^owever,  were  con 
tinually  moving  toward  the  front,  so  that  Sherman's  flanking 
operations  were  still  being  prosecuted  with  as  yet  undiminished 
numbers. 

The  return  of  detailed  men  daily  swelled  the  regiment's 
ranks,  and  by  the  6th  of  June  its  aggregate  of  present  for  duty 
amounted  to  about  four  hundred  and  thirty  men,  exclusive  of 
officers.  The  last  promotions  ever  made  in  it  were  announced 
on  the  29th  of  May,  Lieutenant  Choate  becoming  captain  of 
Company  B,  which  he  had  commanded  since  Chickamauga, 
and  Second  Lieutenant  Cormany  first  lieutenant  in  Company 
G.  Sergeant- Major  Mellen,  and  private  William  C.  Perkins, 


532  THE    STOKY   OF   A   KEGIMENT. 

of  Company  G,  held  commissions  as  second  lieutenants  for 
months,  but  could  not  muster,  because  the  regiment  was  below 
the  legal  minimum  strength.  The  same  regulation  prevented 
the  Quartermaster-Sergeant  and  several  of  the  first  sergeants 
from  returning  home  as  commissioned  officers,  though  in  no 
capacity  could  they  have  discharged  a  soldier's  whole  duty 
with  greater  fidelity  or  acceptance  than  in  the  grades  which 
they  actually  held. 

At  7  A.  M.,  on  the  6th  of  June,  the  Sixth  Ohio  took  cars 
for  Chattanooga  and  turned  its  face  toward  home — yes,  toward 
HOME  !  Lieutenant-Colonel  Christopher  had  previously  gone 
forward  to  secure  transportation,  etc.,  and  met  the  regiment  at 
Cincinnati.  At  Chattanooga  a  halt  was  made,  to  draw  cloth 
ing,  have-  the  camp  and  garrison  equipage  condemned,  transfer 
a  squad  of  orphaned  recruits  to  the  proper  authorities  to  serve 
out  theii)  full  term  of  three  years  in  other  commands,  and  com 
plete  whatever  else  was  necessary  to  do  before  returning  home. 
There  also  the  regiment  was  rejoined  by  Captain  Thatcher,  just 
relieved  from  four  months'  able  service  as  Judge  Advocate  of 
a  department  court-martial,  and  who  now  relieved  Lieutenant 
La  Bille,  of  the  command  of  Company  F ;  by  Captain  West, 
whose  long  and  useful  connection  with  the  Pioneer  Corps  was 
now  terminated ;  by  Lieutenant  Holmes,  who  had  been  paroled 
in  February  and  exchanged  a  short  time  before  this  date;  and 
also  by  Captain  Schieffer.  Surgeon  Stephens,  being  relieved 
from  duty  as  brigade  surgeon  late  in  May,  met  the  regiment 
on  its  arrival  in  Cincinnati,  as  did  Lieutenant  Peck  also,  for 
the  first  and  last  time  leaving  his  trains  in  other  hands.  Cap 
tain  Sheridan,  on  duty  with  the  Signal  Corps  since  Camp 
Wickliffe  times,  had  been  severely  wounded  in  the  fighting  at 
Kesaca,  and  was  barely  able  to  be  brought  in  a  carriage  to 
greet  the  regiment's  return  at  Cincinnati;  while  Captain  Tin- 


CLEVELAND,   RESACA,    HOME,    AND   MUSTER-OUT.      533 

ker,  then  as  for  many  months  afterward,  was  confined  to  his 
cot,  a  helpless  sufferer  from  the  Cbickamauga  wound  which 
has  made  him  a  cripple  for  life.  Lieutenant  Morris,  relieved 
from  duty  as  acting  inspector-general  of  the  post  at  Gallatin, 
did  not  rejoin  the  regiment  until  three  days  before  its  muster- 
out. 

Proceeding  by  rail  to  Nashville,  the  Sixth  Ohio  took  pas 
sage  on  the  steamer  Lady  Franklin  for  Cincinnati,  where 
friends  were  preparing  such  a  "welcome  home"  as  should 
justly  express  the  city's  pride  in  the  record  which  its  battle- 
thinned  ranks  had  made  during  three  years'  constant  service 
at  the  front.  Its  reception  in  Cincinnati,  on  the  15th  of  June, 
was  an  ovation  whose  proud  and  happy  memories  none  of  its 
survivors  will  ever  forget.  The  regiment  was  met  at  North 
Bend  by  the  steamers  Swallow  and  Duke  of  Argyle,  loaded 
with  friends,  and  each  having  a  band  of  music  on  hpard.  The 
boats  were  lashed  together,  the  Lady  Franklin  in  the  center, 
and  the  joyful  reunions  that  the  next  hour  numbered  may 
be  imagined,  but  never  described.  At  Cincinnati  several 
thousand  people  had  gathered  on  the  landing,  and  the  streets 
through  which  the  regiment  was  to  pass  wrere  lined  with  thou 
sands  more,  and  brilliant  with  flags  and  other  decorations. 
The  regiment  disembarked,  formed  as  rapidly  as  the  density 
of  the  crowd  would  permit,  and,  escorted  by  detachments  of 
the  Eleventh  Ohio  and  other  military  bodies,  with  various 
civic  dignitaries  in  carriages,  marched  to  Pike's  Opera  House, 
where  it  was  formally  welcomed  home  in  a  speech  by  Colonel 
Stanley  M.  Matthews.  Colonel  Anderson  replied  briefly  on 
behalf  of  the  regiment,  and  the  hungry  men  then  proceeded 
to  Melodeon  Hall  to  partake  of  the  banquet  that  fair  hands 
had  there  provided  them ;  which  done,  they  were  dismissed  to 
the  enjoyment  of  home  and  friends.  He-assembling  as  soon  as 


534  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

the  muster-out  rolls,  etc.,  could  be  prepared,  the  regiment  went 
to  Camp  Dennison,  where,  on  the  23d  of  June  (1864),  it  was 
mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service,  with  an  aggregate 
strength  of  532,  including  thirty  commissioned  officers,  or  a 
fraction  more  than  one-half  the  number  with  which  it  left  the 
same  camp  just  one  week  less  than  three  years  before. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  afterward  enlisted 
in  the  gunboat  service  and  in  Hancock's  corps,  and  several  ob 
tained  commissions  in  other  new  regiments.  A  majority  of  the 
officers,  together  with  about  one-half  of  the  enlisted  men,  are 
now  living  in  Cincinnati.  Upon  the 'strong  recommendations  of 
Thomas,  Wood,  and  other  of  the  Sixth  Ohio's  old  commanders  in 
the  field,  Colonel  Anderson  has  lately  been  brevetted  Brigadier- 
General  "for  gallant  conduct  and  meritorious  services  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,"  and  Major-General  "for  distinguished 
gallantry  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Chickamau- 
ga,"  both  to  date  from  March  13,  1865.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Christopher  is  in  the  United  States  revenue  service,  and  Cap 
tain  Tinker,  who  deserves  much  more,  holds  a  clerkship  at  the 
court-house.  Major  Bense,  Captains  Russell,  Getty,  Donovan, 
West,  and  Schieffer,  and  Lieutenants  Kestner  and  Reynolds 
are  all  engaged  in  business  in  Cincinnati.  Adjutant  Throop 
— brevetted  major  in  1865 — is  practicing  law  on  Third  Street, 
with  well-earned  success.  Lieutenant  Cormany,  who  is  also 
practicing  law,  declined  a  captain's  commission  which  was 
tendered  him  in  Hancock's  corps,  and  afterward  received  the 
brevet  of  major.  Captains  Southgate  and  Choate,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Graham  are  likewise  in  Cincinnati. 

Captain  Thatcher  is  in  the  express  business  at  Nashville,  and 
Captain  Sheridan,  still  on  the  stage — for  some  time  past  at 
Washington.  Lieutenant  Meline  was  commissioned  captain 


CLEVELAND,   RESACA,    HOME,    AND   MUSTER-OUT.      535 

in  the  Second  Regiment  of  United  States  Veteran  Volunteers 
(Hancock's  Corps),  in  August,  1864,  and  remained  in  service 
until  April,  1866.  He  was  for  some  time  commissary  of  sub 
sistence  for  the  brigade  to  which  his  regiment  belonged,  after 
ward  personal  aid  to  Major-General  Francis  Fessenden,  of  the 
First  Division,  First  Army  Corps,  and  for  six  months  was  in 
command  of  Fort  Porter,  at  Buffalo,  New  York.  The  well- 
merited  brevet  of  major  has  been  conferred  upon  him,  "for 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  during  the  war."  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  Treasury  Department  at  Washington.  Dr. 
Stephens,  as  before  the  war,  is  practicing  medicine  at  Eaton, 
and  Dr.  Bedell,  at  Cardington,  Ohio.  Quartermaster  Slanker 
is  traveling  agent  for  the  oldest  "  native  wine "  house  in  Cin 
cinnati.  Lieutenant  Holmes  went  East  in  the  spring  of  1868, 
and  there  remains  on  business.  Lieutenant  Morris,  at  latest 
advices,  was  in  Nashville ;  Peck,  in  Omaha ;  Lewis,  in  Wash 
ington,  and  La  Bille,  in  Elizabethport,  New  Jersey.  Of  the 
whereabouts  of  Lieutenants  Goodnough,  Boice,  and  Glisan, 
the  writer -can  give  no  information. 

Of  the  old  commanders  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  who  are  still  in 
service,  General  Hazen — after  a  brilliant  career  during  the  last 
year  of  the  war  under  Sherman — is  colonel  of  the  Thirty- 
eighth  Infantry;  Reynolds,  colonel  of  the  Twenty-sixth  In 
fantry,  and  Crittenden,  colonel  of  the  Thirty-second  Infantry. 

A  careful  computation  shows  that  the  total  distance  marched 
by  the  Sixth  Ohio,  was  about  3,275  miles  (more,  rather  than 
less),  without  including  a  vast  amount  of  picket  duty,  foraging 
expeditions,  and  other  service,  on  which  only  portions  of  the 
regiment  were  engaged,  and  which  aggregate  an  average  of  from 
one  thousand  to  twelve  hundred  miles  more  for  each  company. 
To  these  numbers  are  to  be  added  about  2,650  miles  as  the  dis- 


536  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

tance  which  the  regiment  traveled  by  steamboat  and  rail 
road. 

In  the  four  pitched  battles  in  which  the  Sixth  Ohio  took 
part,  it  lost,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  a  total  of  315 
officers  and  men.  Omitting  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  this  shows 
an  average  loss  in  each  battle  of  about  thirty-two  per  cent,  of 
the  number  with  which  it  went  into  action.  It  also  partici 
pated  in  a  number  of  skirmishes  and  minor  engagements,  sus 
taining  several  casualties  in  addition  to  the  above. 

The  business  training  and  clerkly  capacity  of  a  large  propor 
tion  of  the  men  in  the  ranks  were  the  occasion  of  heavy  details 
for  duty  in  the  Quartermaster's,  Commissary,  and  other  staff 
departments  of  the  army,  and  very  materially  reduced  its  ag 
gregate  of  present  for  duty  during  the  greater  portion  of  its 
term  of  service. 

The  healthfulness  of  the  Sixth  Ohio  is  a  feature  in  its  his 
tory  of  which  every  member  of  the  regiment  has  just  reason 
to  be  proud.  In  its  entire  period  of  service — three  years  and 
five  days — it  lost  only  sixteen  men  by  disease,  as  follows: 
Companies  B,  E,  G,  and  I,  each  one ;  Companies  A,  F,  and  K, 
each  two;  Companies  C  and  D,  each  three,  and  Company  H, 
none.  At  least  two  hundred  men  in  the  ranks  never  lost  a 
day's  duty.  Such  a  showing  as  this  could  probably  be  made 
on  behalf  of  no  other  regiment  that  served  during  the  war  of 
the  great  rebellion. 


PART    II 


THE    STOKT   OF  A   KEGIMEJSTT. 


CHEAT   MOUNTAIN   CAMPAIGNING. 

THE    MARCH  TO  CHEAT   MOUNTAIN. 

CAMP  ELKWATER,  September  21,  1861. 

"  Two  days'  rations  in  haversacks,  and  march  at  four  in  the 
morning,"  was  the  sententious  order  of  the  adjutant  to  the  lieu 
tenant  in  command,  on  the  evening  of  the  12th  inst.  .  .  .  We 
took  a  narrow  path  up  the  mountains,  impassable  for  horses,  and 
of  so  steep  a  grade  as  to  make  it  fatiguing  in  the  extreme  to  men. 
You  can  form  no  idea  of  these  mountain  passes.  A  slippery  path, 
winding  around  a  hill-side,  obstructed  by  huge  boulders  and  fallen 
trees,  and  so  steep  that  you  can  hardly  stand  erect  on  it ;  rendered 
inaccessible  to  the  sunshine  by  the  immense  chestnut,  oak,  pine, 
and  ash  trees  that  overshadow  it,  and  fringed  by  a  thick  under 
growth  of  laurel,  elder,  sassafras,  and  hazel-bushes — six  or  seven 
miles  of  this  is  enough  to  dampen  the  military  ardor  of  almost  any 
one ;  but,  like  the  man  who  carried  the  calf  until  it  grew  to  be  an 
ox,  we  have  got  accustomed  to  it. 

Reaching  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  we  discovered  that  the 
rebels  were  at  their  old  game.  The  bushes  were  covered  with 
blankets,  and,  in  short,  every  other  species  of  military  toggery, 
of  the  very  inferior  materials  with  which  the  secessionists  are 
equipped.  The  path,  though  devious,  was  easy  enough  to  follow 
after  that,  for  it  was  literally  covered  with  clothing.  A  rapid 
trot  down  hill  soon  brought  us  into  a  pleasant  little  valley,  near 
the  center  of  which  stood  a  lonely  log-house,  now  deserted  by  its 
former  tenants.  Standing  in  groups  around  it  was  the  Second 
Virginia  Regiment,  Colonel  Moss,  which  had  preceded  us  on  the 
journey,  having  left  Beverly  the  night  previous,  without  a  blanket 

(539) 


540  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

for  cover,  or  even  a  "  sheet-iron  cracker "  for  sustenance.  The 
former  want  they  had  supplied  from  the  plunder  left  by  the  rebels, 
and  the  latter  was  liberally  met  by  our  boys  from  their  haver 
sacks. 

A  short  rest — which  the  boys  improved  by  attacking  .a  row  of 
bee-hives,  bringing  out  the  bees  and  scattering  the  "forlorn  hope" 
that  had  made  the  assault — and  we  again  started  through  the 
forest.  An  hour's  climbing  brought  us  to  the  base  of  a  clearing, 
where  a  skirmish  had  taken  place  the  day  before,  and  where  it 
was  supposed  the  enemy  was  in  position  to  receive  us.  The  ap 
proach  was  made  with  great  caution — our  three  companies,  which 
were  in  the  advance,  being  deployed  as  skirmishers,  with  the  Third 
Ohioaus  as  a  reserve.  Stealthily  the  men  crept  up  the  abrupt  ac 
clivities  to  the  right  and  left  of  us,  while  another  company  made 
the  advance  in  front.  The  summit  reached,  nothing  unusual  was 
to  be  seen — a  log-house,  an  orchard,  and  the  surroundings  of  a 
Virginia  mountaineer's  home,  were  nothing  to  be  astonished  at. 
Not  a  gray  coat  was  visible,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  the  men.  Ap 
proaching  the  house,  we  were  met  by  a  Fourteenth  Indiana  man, 
who  came  limping  along,  overjoyed  at  discovering  that  friends 
were  at  hand.  He  had  been  shot  through  the  thigh  with  a  squir 
rel-rifle  ball,  and  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebels  in  the  skirmish  of 
the  previous  day.  With  tears  in  his  eyes,  he  informed  us  that 
the  rear-guard  of  the  enemy  had  left  there  but  an  hour  before, 
and  were  retreating  by  the  Stewart's  Run  road ;  that  they  had  been 
informed  of  our  approach  and  dared  not  risk  an  engagement ;  and 
that  their  men  were  almost  starved  and  were  so  much  fatigued  that 
their  officers  could  not  control  them,  and  were  forced  to  follow  the 
men,  who  had  decided  to  retreat. 

We  entered  the  house.  Another  such  scene  I  fervently  hope  I 
never  may  see.  Lying  upon  the  floor  of  the  only  room  in  the 
cabin  were  seven  wounded  rebels,  left  there  by  their  fleeing  com 
rades.  Two  sick  men  had  been  left  to  care  for  them,  which  they 
were  either  not  able  or  unwilling  to  do,  so  that  the  whole  burden 
fell  upon  a  poor  woman,  who,  with  her  five  children,  were  tenants 
of  the  hut.  Her  husband,  a  zealous  secessionist,  had  been  taken 
prisoner.  He  was  punished,  and  properly  enough ;  but  what  crime 
had  the  innocent  children  committed,  and  the  poor  mother,  in  that 
lonely  mountain  glen  ?  She  moved  about  with  that  quiet,  noise 
less  step  so  peculiar  to  intense  sorrow,  handing  this  one  water, 


CHEAT   MOUNTAIN   CAMPAIGNING.  541 

bathing  that  one's  aching  temples,  and  attending  to  her  household 
duties.  The  children  stood  about  the  horrid  scene — the  elder  ones 
in  mute  despair,  the  younger  prattling  away  unconscious  of  the 
terrors  of  bellum,  horriduin  lettum  I  May  He  who  is  the  Father 
of  all,  extend  the  aegis  of  his  protection  over  that  desolate  house 
hold. 

My  reflections  were  disturbed  by  the  bugle  sounding  "  the  as 
sembly,"  and  shouts  of  "forward!"  and  in  a  few  moments  the 
column  was  again  moving  through  the  woods  and  up  the  hill.  An 
other  wearisome  march,  the  details  of  which  would  be  but  a  rep 
etition  of  the  description  of  the  former,  brought  us  nearly  to  the 
summit  of  Cheat  Mountain.  We  found  the  troops  stationed  at  the 
fortifications  on  the  summit  in  a  very  healthy  state  of  mind  for  a 
fight — momentarily  expecting  an  attack  from  the  enemy,  who  was 
menacing  their  front  with  a  supposed  force  of  five  thousand  men. 
We  bivouacked  that  night  just  below  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and 
next  morning  started  for  home. — "  J.  J.  M."  to  Cincinnati  Daily 
Press. 


A  NOTABLE  SCOUTING  ADVENTURE. 

[Of  the  numerous  scouting  expeditions  undertaken  by  Corporal,  afterward 
Captain,  H.  C.  Choate  and  private  James  Martin,  during  the  West  Virginia 
campaign,  the  most  famous  is  that  referred  to  in  Chapters  IX  and  X.  Martin 
was  one  of  a  detachment  of  Swiss,  recruited  at  Tell  City,  Indiana,  which  be 
came  incorporated  with  Company  I,  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  and  was  a  young  man 
of  good  education,  great  personal  gallantry,  and  more  than  ordinary  force  of 
character.  His  account  of  the  scout  in  question  is  as  follows :] 

CAMP  WAGNER  [ELKWATER],  VA.,  ) 
September—,  1861.      I 

Our  captain,  with  forty-two  men,  was  ordered  to  an  important 
post  up  Stewart's  Run,  in  order  to  take  possession  of  the  valley. 
The  following  day  four  of  us  were  ordered  out  to  reconnoiter. 
We  were  gone  all  day,  but  discovered  no  traces  of  the  enemy,  and 
in  the  evening  returned  to  our  captain.  The  next  morning,  in 
company  with  Corporal  Choate  and  John  McGlore,  two  daring 
men,  I  started  out  again,  with  the  object  of  ascertaining  the 
situation  of  the  valley  and  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy.  We 
took  with  us  a  compass,  spy-glass,  and  two  days'  rations.  The 
first  night  we  bivouacked  on  the  mountain.  It  rained  very  hard, 
yet  we  dared  not  make  a  fire,  on  account  of  being  so  near  the 


542  THE   STOEY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

enemy.  The  next  morning,  which  was  densely  foggy,  we  started 
down  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  at  the  foot  of  which  we  came 
upon  a  farm.  There  we  found  fresh  tracks  of  men,  horses,  and 
mules,  and  also  biscuits  and  corn  scattered  upon  the  ground.  As 
we  approached  the  house,  we  saw  three  horses  and  one  mule,  all 
beautifully  saddled.  There  were  also  some  of  the  enemy's  sol 
diers  busily  engaged  in  drying  red  blankets,  and  in  making 
preparations  to  march.  We  were  in  hopes  of  making  a  good 
"haul,"  and  went  straight  toward  the  house.  As  soon  as  the 
soldiers  entered  the  house,  I  made  haste  with  my  comrade  Choate, 
leaving  McGlore  as  an  outpost  fifteen  paces  from  the  house.  We 
saw  some  one  look  from  a  side  door  toward  us,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  I  made  signs  toward  the  neighboring  woods,  as  if  I  wished  to 
call  more  comrades  from  thence.  A  man  now  came  out  of  the 
house  and  asked  to  what  regiment  and  division  we  belonged.  I 
replied  :  "  To  the  Sixth  Ohio !  We  are  here  to  take  you  prisoners 
or  to  kill  you!"  I  placed  my  bayonet  to  his  breast,  and  threat 
ened,  at  the  least  movement,  to  run  him  through.  Two  shots 
were  fired  out  of  the  house  at  Choate,  but  without  taking  effect. 
The  powder  of  the  first  shot  burned  his  hair  and  eyebrows.  We 
ordered  our  prisoner  to  call  the  others  out  of  the  house,  and  to  tell 
them  that,  if  they  did  not  comply  immediately,  he  would  be  killed, 
and  all  that  were  in  the  house  would  be  massacred.  He  called 
loudly,  "  For  God's  sake,  Dr.  Jones,  please  come  out !"  At  the 
same  time  two  soldiers  ran  swiftly  through  a  back  door,  down  the 
mountains,  and  made  for  the  woods.  A  man,  dressed  as  a  lieu 
tenant-colonel,  now  came  very  quietly  from  the  house,  and  said : 
"  You  are  men,  and,  I  doubt  not,  also  gentlemen,  and  will  treat  us  as 
such.  I  am  your  prisoner."  We  very  politely  gave  him  in  charge 
of  our  outpost  (McGlore)  near  the  fence.  Then  two  more  made 
their  appearance,  one  badly  frightened,  and  the  other  wearing  a 
stubborn  countenance.  These,  also,  we  handed  over  to  our  outpost. 
Then  we  cried : 

"Out  with  the  one  who  shot!" 

"O  God  !  spare  the  man  in  the  house!" 

"They  will  kill  me  !"  he  cried. 

"No,"  said  I  to  him.  "You  shot  twice  at  my  companion  ;  yet, 
when  the  lives  of  your  comrades  were  in  my  hand,  I  spared  them 
because  they  were  unarmed.  We  fight  for  the  sake  of  a  principle, 
without  any  personal  animosity." 


CHEAT   MOUNTAIN   CAMPAIGNING.  543 

After  the  lieutenant-colonel  had  called  him  again,  he  came  out, 
pale  and  trembling.  Choate  took  his  pistol  from  him,  with  these 
words:  "Sir,  you  shoot  badly.  I  can  use  this  better."  On  ques 
tioning  the  prisoners,  we  learned  that  there  were  two  more  lying  in 
bed,  under  the  pretense  of  being  sick.  We  did  not  molest  them. 
Our  prisoners  were  two  officers,  two  surgeons,  and  one  private. 
The  latter  told  me  that  three  and  a  half  regiments  had  left  their 
camps  to  attack  our  forces,  and  that,  by  this  time,  they  must  be 
between  us  and  our  camp. 

We  took  from  our  prisoners  their  swords  and  revolvers,  but, 
being  unable  to  carry  their  muskets,  we  left  them,  after  having 
taken  off  their  locks.  As  we  marched  our  captives  toward  our 
camp,  we  soon  found  traces  of  the  enemy,  and  learned  from  a  lady 
that  they  had  passed  two  hours  before.  We  treated  our  prisoners 
well,  only  urging  them  forward,  and  had  told  them  to  mount  their 
horses.  After  traveling  six  or  seven  miles,  we  came  to  the  place 
where  our  pickets  had  been  stationed  the  day  previous.  Leaving 
the  prisoners  in  charge  of  my  companions,  I  advanced  to  obtain 
some  information  of  our  pickets,  and  found  that  the  secessionists 
occupied  our  posts.  Inquiring  at  a  neighboring  house,  I  ascer 
tained  that  our  four  men  stationed  near  there  had  been  taken 
prisoners.  The  enemy  were  close  upon  our  heels  from  behind, 
their  pickets  were  before  us,  and  the  mountains  were  on  our  right 
and  left.  It  was  necessary  to  give  up  our  prisoners  and  seek  our 
own  safety.  The  lieutenant-colonel  gave  us  his  word  of  honor 
that  he  would  send  us  free  and  unmolested  to  our  camp  if  we  were 
taken  with  him ;  but  we  feared  that  we  should  be  questioned  too 
much,  and  that  the  general  would  not  allow  the  lieutenant- 
colonel's  promises  to  be  kept.  Moreover,  we  should  have  been 
compelled  to  give  up  our  own  arms,  together  with  those  that  we 
had  taken  from  our  prisoners.  We  had  no  wish  to  return  to 
camp  in  such  a  humiliating  condition.  Thanking  the  lieutenant- 
colonel  for  his  kindness,  we  told  him  that  we  preferred  to  run 
the  risks  of  getting  safely  back  ourselves.  "Well,"  said  he, 
"you  are  brave  boys.  You  have  treated  us  well.  Give  me  your 
names,  your  regiment,  and  company.  Should  you  or  your  com 
rades  fall  into  our  hands,  be  assured  we  shall  treat  you  as  well  as 
you  have  treated  us.  Give  me  your  hands,  and  let  us  hope  to 
meet  in  peace." 

Thus  we  parted,  as  though  we  were  the  best  of  friends.     We 


544  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

sprang  into  the  bushes — it  was  high  time — ascended  the  mount 
ain,  and  secreted  ourselves  behind  fallen  trees,  within  reach  of 
the  enemy's  shots,  had  they  discovered  us.  We"  were  in  hopes 
that  our  brave  captain  would  be  timely  reenforced,  and  would 
drive  the  enemy  back.  If  they  had  retreated,  we  could  have  given 
them  a  warm  reception  from  our  hiding-place.  We  heard  several 
shots,  and  then  all  was  quiet.  It  was  now  about  noonday. 

After  much  fatigue 'and  danger,  we  came,  half-famished,  to  the 
outposts  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  Regiment.  The  boys  gave  us 
meat,  crackers,  etc. — just  what  we  needed  after  living  upon  a 
quarter  of  a  pound  of  crackers  and  raw  rice  for  several  days. 
From  thence  we  marched  to  Camp  Kimball,  one  mile  further,  on 
the  Cheat  River.  Cotonel  Kimball  had  us  called  to  himself,  and, 
after  having  partaken  of  a  good  drink  of  whisky,  we  gave  him  the 
particulars  of  our  expedition.  There  we  heard  the  sad  news  that 
our  captain,  together  with  nearly  all  his  men,  had  been  surrounded 
by  two  regiments  and  taken  prisoners.  Colonel  Kimball  wished 
us  to  remain  with  him.  Choate  did  remain,  but  McGlore  and  I 
decided  to  return  to  our  own  regiment.  I  was  anxious  to  obtain 
some  definite  intelligence  in  regard  to  the  fate  of  our  brave  little 
captain  and  my  fellow-soldiers.  As  the  Thirteenth  Indiana  was 
about  to  march  toward  our  camp,  we  joined  them,  and  reached  our 
destination  at  nine  o'clock  Friday,  after  a  march  of  eighteen  miles. 

It  was  now  the  fifth  day  and  fourth  night  since  we  had  left  our 
company.  My  hands,  face,  and  feet  were  torn  with  thorns,  like 
wise  my  clothing  and  shoes,  and  my  limbs  were  very  weary ;  still, 
my  courage  was  fresh,  my  musket  bright,  and  my  powder  dry.  At 
camp  they  all  thought  us  either  prisoners  or  killed.  We  had  been 
dropped  from  the  roll-book  for  three  days.  You  can  imagine  how 
we  were  received  by  those  who  were  left  of  Company  I,  especially 
after  we  related  our  story,  showed  the  arms  of  the  nine  prisoners 
captured  by  us,  and  informed  them  of  the  assurance  of  the 
lieutenant-colonel  that  our  men  would  be  treated  as  gentlemen. 

[Corporal  Choate  was  retained  as  one  of  Colonel  Kimball's 
scouts  for  several  weeks.  He  became  well  known  to  the  various 
regimental  commanders  at  the  Summit,  as  well  as  to  General 
Reynolds,  and  was  much  trusted  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  his 
peculiar  service.]  > 


CHEAT   MOUNTAIN   CAMPAIGNING.  545 


THE  COURT-MARTIAL  OF  STALNAKER. 

CAMP  ELK  WATER,  VA.,  Nov.  18,  1861. 

Incessant  rains  have  rendered  drills  out  of  the  question  ;  and, 
consequently,  every  possible  device  is  resorted  to  by  our  boys  to 
dispel  the  ennui  of  camp  life.  Many  ludicrous  scenes  occur  daily. 
One  transpired  yesterday  worthy  of  mention,  and,  although  I  am 
positive  that  the  "  nub  "  will  be  lost  by  recital,  I  attempt  it. 

We  have  some  queer  specimens  of  the  genus  homo  among  us, 
and  the  most  remarkable  is  one  Staluaker,  an  F.  F.  V.,  who  has 
rendered  himself  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  boys  by  his 
avaricious  propensities.  Our  good  wives  and  mothers  would 
laugh  at  the  idea  of  giving  one  dollar  for  a  single  head  of  cabbage 
or  a  chicken  ;  but  we  have  been  compelled  to  patronize  Stalnaker 
notwithstanding  these  exorbitant  rates. 

Our  laws  are  stringent  in  regard  to  furnishing  soldiers  with 
liquor,  and  yesterday  Stalnaker  was  detected  in  the  act  of  selling 
two  bottles  of  liquor  to  some  soldiers.  He  was  accordingly 
arrested  and  placed  in  the  guard-house.  Major  Christopher  having 
no  doubt  of  his  guilt,  ordered  him  to  be  drummed  out  of  camp  ;  but 
some  waggish  officer  hearing  of  it,  persuaded  the  Major  to  try 
Stalnaker  before  a  mock  court-martial,  and  it  was  forthwith  con 
vened.  The  august  body  consisted  of  Captain  Clarke,  Lieutenants 
Southgate,  Getty,  Russell,  and  Judge  Advocate  Captain  S.  C. 
Erwin.  Captain  Wilmington  acted  as  prosecutor,  and  Sergeant 
Throop  as  counsel  for  defendant. 

Every  thing  being  arranged,  the  prisoner  was  ushered  in,  evi 
dently  badly  frightened. 

Captain  Wilmington  arose  and  accused  him  of  having  been 
guilty  of  treason,  by  attempting  to  seduce  from  their  allegiance 
certain  soldiers  by  offering  them  bad  whisky. 

The  prisoner  pleaded  "  not  guilty,"  and  sutler  Andy  Hall  was 
called  to  the  stand  as  witness  for  the  prosecution,  whereupon  the 
following  oath  was  administered  : 

"You  do  solemnly  swear  that  you  will  not  scruple  to  testify  to 
any  thing  which  may  tend  to  convict  the  prisoner,  as  you  hope  for 
the  success  of  the  Southern  Confederacy." 

Witness  clearly  convicted  the  prisoner  of  selling  the  liquor  to 
soldiers,  and  then  went  on  to  state  many  ridiculous  things  that 
35 


546  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

had  never  transpired,  among  which  were  that  he  had  just  received 
a  telegram  from  his  partner,  Mr.  Cobb,  then  in  Grafton,  saying 
that  Stalnaker  had  obtained  a  ten-gallon  demijohn  of  whisky  from 
him,  and  that  he  (Cobb)  had  dreamed  that  Stalnaker  was  retailing 
the  whisky  to  soldiers  at  fifteen  cents  a  glass.  A  bogus  dispatch 
was  produced.  The  judge  asked  Hall  if  he  could  identify  his 
partner's  signature  by  telegraph,  and  upon  his  replying  promptly 
that  he  could.,  the  court  looked  very  grave  and  appeared  satisfied. 

The  prisoner  was  naturally  astonished  at  this  strange  news,  and 
protested  that  he  was  innocent,  but  the  judge  advocate  shook  his 
head  and  remarked  that  the  affair  began  to  look  serious. 

The  witness  then  accused  the  prisoner  of  having  a  large  amount 
of  Confederate  scrip  in  his  possession,  and  upon  his  producing  his 
pocket-book  in  order  to  refute  the  charge,  he  was  reprimanded  for 
attempting  to  bribe  Captain  Andrews  to  swear  for  him  I  Andrews 
taking  the  stand,  testified  that  Stalnaker  had  given  him  five  dollars 
to  swear  to  a  few  things,  but  that  his  conscience  reproached  him. 

Counsel  for  defendant  then  demanded  that  the  money  be  re 
turned.  This  had  not  been  anticipated  by  the  captain,  and  as  he 
did  not  happen  to  have  five  dollars  in  gold,  he  produced  a  two-and- 
a-half  piece.  This  was  handed  to  the  prisoner  for  identification, 
and  in  a  bewildered  manner  he  asserted  that  it  was  his  five- 
dollar  piece.  Captain  Andrews  again  got  possession  of  the  money, 
and  changed  it  to  a  one-dollar  piece.  Stalnaker,  at  the  instigation 
of  his  counsel,  still  claimed  the  money  as  his  own,  apparently  not 
seeing  the  impossibility  of  a  five-dollar  gold  piece*dwindliug  into  a 
dollar. 

Lieutenant  Royse  next  testified  to  the  good  character  of  the 
defendant,  but  upon  being  cross-examined  confessed  that  the 
extent  of  his  knowledge  was  derived  from  having  bought  several 
fowls  of  Miss  Stalnaker.  Witness  was  closely  questioned  as  to  the 
character  of  these  transactions,  and  then  dismissed  upon  the  plea 
that  his  long  association  with  the  Cincinnati  police  court  (as  clerk) 
had  rendered  him  unreliable. 

By  this  time  the  prisoner  was  crying,  and  the  court  removed 
him.  After  the  lapse  of  a  few  minutes  he  was  again  brought  in, 
and  sentence  passed  upon  him,  which  was  that  he  should  be  hung 
or  shot,  as  he  saw  fit,  and  then  drummed  out  of  camp  !  The  court 
not  seeing  clearly  how  the  drumming  out  was  to  be  accomplished 
after  the  shooting  and  hanging,  decided  to  drum  him  out  first,  and 


CHEAT   MOUNTAIN   CAMPAIGNING.  547 

enforce  the  rest  of  the  sentence  should  he  ever  return  to  camp. 
The  drummers  and  fifers  were  called  out,  and  Mr.  Stalnaker  left 
camp  to  the  inspiring  tune  of  the  "  Rogue's  March,"  his  pace 
quickened  by  two  bayonets. — "TVerao"  to  the  Cincinnati  Com 
mercial. 


"SKEDADDLE"— HOW  DID  THE   TERM  ORIGINATE? 

The  term  "skedaddle,"  which  came  into  general  use  during 
the  war,  and  must  henceforth  have  a  place  in  every  "Dictionary 
of  Americanisms,"  was  first  employed  at  the  siege  of  Laurel 
Hill,  so-called.  Many  of  the  Indiana  skirmishers  were  reckless 
backwoodsmen,  not  half  disciplined,  yet  unrivaled  in  their  favorite 
exercise  of  bush  fighting.  Whether  they  found  the  need  of  a 
more  forcible  and  homely  word  than  any  of  the  customary 
military  phrases  to  describe  the  retrograde  movements  of  the 
rebels,  whether  their  ears  naturally  abhorred  the  tautological 
repetition  of  those  phrases,  or  from  whatever  other  whim  it  may 
have  been,  "skedaddle"  had,  as  it  were,  a  spontaneous  origin  in 
the  mouth  of  these  men.  To  any  one  who  knows  among  what 
classes  the  word  first  gained  currency,  the  attempts  of  learned 
scholars  to  trace  it  to  a  Greek  root  must  seem  a  ludicrous  waste 
of  erudition.  Nor  is  there  the  least  reason,  apparently,  for  be 
lieving  that  it  has  any  affinity  with  the  phrase  "sgeadol  ol," 
found  in  an  old  Irish  New  Testament,  in  a  passage  which  our 
modern  version  renders  "shall  all  be  scattered,"  as  has  been 
suggested,  in  connection  with  the  hypothesis  that  some  facetious 
Hibernian  first  coined  the  word  in  his  descriptions  of  the  rout  of 
the  Union  Army  at  Bull  Run.  In  regard  to  the  latter  idea,  it  is 
enough  to  say  that  thousands  are  now  living  who  can  testify  that 
"skedaddle"  was  in  common 'use  among  the  Indiana  troops  at 
Laurel  Hill  two  weeks  before  the  date  of  that  battle.  E.  H. 


548  THE  STORY   OF  A  REGIMENT. 


TRAINING  UNDER  NELSON. 

A   PRIVATE'S   DIARY.— (EXTRACTS.) 

T\ECEMBER  9th,  1861.— Marching  orders  this  evening.  We 
A/  are  in  the  division  of  General  Nelson,  a  very  unpopular  com 
mander.  Have  been  sick  for  three  days. 

December  10th.— Reveille  at  4  A.  M.  Felt  a  little  better,  and 
determined  to  accompany  the  regiment  if  possible.  Got  permis 
sion  to  go  with  the  train.  Mike  Coleman  let  me  strap  my  knap 
sack  on  behind  his  wagon,  which  enabled  me  to  march  light. 

December  12th. — Started  with  the  column  this  morning,  and 
kept  going  till  near  sundown.  On  the  march  no  one  is  allowed 
to  fall  out,  so  long  as  he  can  put  one  foot  before  the  other,  and 
the  rear-guard  is  merciless.  I  never  felt  so  tired  in  my  life  (still 
half-sick,  as  I  am)  as  I  do  to-night;  but,  thank  Heaven,  I  was 
somehow  enabled  to  keep  up. 

December  16th. — Our  camp  is  named  after  Governor  "VVickliffe, 
now  in  Congress.  I  came  off  guard  about  8:30  A.  M.,  and  a  little 
after  nine  o'clock  was  arrested,  and  taken  to  the  guard-house,  for 
not  going  on  drill.  All  the  old  guards,  fifty  or  more  in  number, 
were  with  me — the  matter  being  perfectly  understood  all  over  the 
regiment. 

December  17th. — All  of  yesterday's  guards,  including  Sergeant 

T ,  of  Company  A,  who  arrested  me  for  the  same  cause, 

were  marched  to  the  guard-house  for  refusing  to  go  on  drill  this 
morning.  The  imposition  is  too  palpable  for  the  boys  to  submit 
to  it. 

December  19th. — Drill,  drill,  drill!  The  major  was  the  only 
field  officer  out,  the  colonel  being  sick,  and  the  lieutenant-colonel 
in  charge  of  the  pickets.  Orders  read  to-night  excuse  the  old 


TRAINING   UNDER   NELSON.  549 

guards  from  drill  until  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  they  are 
relieved.     This  saves  me  from  going  to  the  guard-house  again. 

December  24th. — Our  company  on  picket  about  three  miles  back 
toward  New  Haven.  Four  of  us,  with  Dave  Medary  as  corporal, 
were  posted  on  the  dirt  road  to  Hodgeusville.  *A  clear,  star-light 
night.  "  Christmas-eve  "  makes  us  think  of  home. 

December  27th. — Rain  last  night.  No  drills  to-day,  in  order  to 
allow  time  to  complete  the  vaccination  of  the  regiment,  which  was 
begun  two  days  ago. 

December  29th,  Sunday. — Company  inspection.  A  royal  good 
dinner,  Bartlett,  Dave  Medary,  and  Ziegler  each  having  received 
a  box  of  good  things  last  night  by  express.  Ziegler's  catawba, 
right  from  old  Green  Township,  completed  the  feast.  Loammi 
Smith  gave  us  a  toast,  and  Gates  tried  to  raise  a  song;  after  which, 
remembering  that  it  was  Sunday,  we  wound  up  by  singing  "Old 
Hundred." 

December  30th. — In  the  afternoon  was  detailed  for  extra  duty, 
and  helped  put  up  a  tent  for  Captain  Phillipps,  division  commis 
sary.  Was  called  a  "murphy"  for  my  pains  by  one  of  his  clerks 
named  Woods,  and  when  the  work  was  done,  refused  the  proffered 
whisky-bottle. 

January  1st,  1862. — New  Year's,  and  a  holiday.  At  dress 
parade  this  evening  Alf.  Burnett  put  the  whole  line  into  a  grin 
by  getting  some  distance  behind  the  colonel,  and  making  grimaces 
at  the  men.  He  was  discharged  a  good  while  ago,  but  remains 
with  the  sutler  still. 

January  3d. — "Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,"  and  John 
Collins  is  the  father.  He  has  contrived  a  little  stove  for  our  mess, 
consisting  of  a  camp-kettle  laid  on  its  side  in  a  box  of  earth,  with 
a  mess-pan  fitted  to  the  kettle's  mouth  for  the  stove-door.  A 
single  length  of  pipe,  to  which  is  attached  a  bottomless  fruit-can, 
does  duty  as  stove-pipe,  the  whole  being  twenty-eight  inches  long. 
This  is  neatly  fitted  by  a  double  rivet  of  three  nails  into  a  circular 
hole  cut  in  the  upper  side  of  the  kettle.  The  pipe  passes  through 
a  rip  made  in  a  seam  on  the  side  of  the  tent  opposite  the  door, 
and  is  protected  on  the  outside  by  a  mess-pan.  This  quaint  appar 
atus  works  well,  and  is  much  admired  for  its  ingenuity. 

January  13th. — Cold  and  windy.  Our  Sibley  tents  were  issued 
this  afternoon,  and  put  up  immediately.  There  are  five  to  a  com 
pany,  which  necessitates  the  consolidation  of  some  of  the  messes. 


550  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

Such  electioneering  and  button-holing  as  there  was  by  excited  in 
dividuals,  to  win  over  the  requisite  number  of  recruits  from  other 
messes,  and  thus  prevent  the  dismemberment  of  their  own,  it  was 
a  sight  to  see.  Our  mess  is  all  right.  At  night  I  was  on  guard 
at  McDougal's  stables,  and  slept  in  the  hay-loft,  warm  and  com 
fortable. 

January  17th. — On  wood  squad  again.  The  mules  stalled  with 
the  first  load,  and  we  had  a  great  time  in  getting  them  started. 
Borrowed  Ed  Howe's  Shakspeare,  and  began  reading  "Romeo 
and  Juliet." 

January  24th. — The th  Indiana  is  under  arrest,  "  for  shirk 
ing  duty  by  the  plea  of  sickness,  in  many  cases  feigned,"  as  the 
special  order  from  General  Nelson  says.  The  General  took  away 
their  colors  to-day.  Three  hundred  and  fifty-one  sick  were  ex 
cused  from  duty  in  that  regiment  this  morning,  while  the  Sixth 
Ohio  had  but  fourteen. 

January  29th. — On  guard.  Rain,  sleet,  mud,  and  misery.  The 
countersign  was  "  Biloxi,"  which  the  German,  whom  I  relieved, 
transmitted  to  me  as  "Peacock's  eye!'' 

January  30th. — Snow  on  my  morning  watch  that  froze  to  my 
blanket,  overcoat,  and  gun.  Major  Christopher  told  me  that  I 
looked  "  like  one  of  the  Old  Guard  of  Napoleon;"  and,  in  truth, 
I  did  feel  very  old.  A  cold  and  dreary  day  throughout,  with  two 
inches  of  snow.  Slept  all  the  forenoon,  and  in  the  afternoon  fin 
ished  reading  my  last  "  Atlantic." 

February  10th. — We  have  papers  giving  particulars  of  the  cap 
ture  of  Fort  Henry.  Hope  that  Fort  Donelson  has  also  fallen 
before  this.  Why  are  we  not  stirring?  I  have  five  letters  to 
answer,  but  am  out  of  postage  stamps,  and  can  neither  buy,  beg, 
nor  borrow  them. 


NELSONIANA. 

The  following  is  the  famous  "  Beef  Soup  Order,"  referred  to  in 
Chapter  XIV : 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  14. 

HEAD-QUARTERS  FOURTH  DIVISION,  ARMY  OF  THE  OHIO,  | 
CAMP  WIOKLIFFE,  KY.,  December  27,  1861.  ) 

I.  Fresh  beef  will  be  issued  to  the  troops  three  times  a  week 
only,  to  wit:  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  and  Saturdays.     No  altera- 


TRAINING   UNDER   NELSON.  551 

tion  will  be  made  in  this  respect,  except  by  general,  order  from 
these  head-quarters. 

II.  Of  the  fresh  beef,  soup  will  be  made.    The  following  method 
of  preparing  it  is  recommended  :  To  every  thirteen  pints  of  water 
put  seven  pounds  of   beef,  two  and  a  half  ounces  of  salt,  three 
ounces  of  flour,  a  very  little  pepper,  two  pounds  of  potatoes,  rice, 
or  any  other  suitable  vegetable,  and  three  ounces  of  sugar.     Place 
them  all  in  the  pot  at  the  same  time,  except  the  flour  (the  water 
cold).     Put  the  pot  on  the  fire,  and,  when  it  is  once  fairly  boiling, 
diminish  the  fire,  and  let  it  simmer  gently  for  three  hours  and  a 
half.     Next  take  out  the  meat,  and  keep  it  warm  in  a  pan.     Then 
mix  the  flour  with  enough  water  to  make  a  liquid  batter,  and  stir 
it  well  into  the   soup.     Boil  half  an  hour  longer,   skimming  off 
the  fat.     Then  serve  the  meat   and   soup  separately.     Observing 
these  directions,  most  excellent  soup  will  be  made.     This  formula 
will  be  copied  for  the  use  of  cooks. 

III.  The  officers  of  the  regiments,  particularly  the  captains,  are 
required  to  give  their  personal  attention  to  this  subject.     Nothing 
distinguishes  a  good  and  conscientious  officer  so  much  as  a  careful 
consideration  of  the  health  and  comfort  of  those  in  his  command. 

By  order  of 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  NELSON. 
J.  MILLS  KENDEICK,  A.  A.  A.  G. 


Our  boys  are  furious  for  practical  jokes,  and  are  constantly  on 
the  lookout  for  subjects.  One  of  the  latter  was  recently  found  in 
the  person  of  a  new  teamster,  who  has  the  charge  of  six  large, 
shaggy  mules.  Jehu  was  discovered  to  be  the  proprietor  of  two 
bottles  of  old  Bourbon — a  contraband  article  in  this  camp — which 
a  wag  resolved  to  possess  himself  of.  Aware  that  the  teamster's 
presence  was  the  great  obstacle  to  the  consummation  of  his  desire, 
he  devised  the  following  plan  to  get  him  out  of  the  way.  Ap 
proaching  the  man,  who  was  busy  currying  his  mule,  he  accosted 
him  with: 

"I  say,  what  are  you  doing  there?" 

"Can't  you  see?"  replied  Jehu,  gruffly. 

"  Certainly  ;  but  this  is  n't  your  business.  It 's  after  tattoo 
now,  and  there  is  a  fellow  right  here  hired  by  the  Government 
on  purpose  to  curry  all  the  teams  that  come  in  late. 


552  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

The  driver  bit  at  once,  and  wanted  to  know  where  the  aforesaid 
"  hair-dresser  "  kept  himself,  whereupon  he  was  pointed  to  Gen 
eral  Nelson's  tent,  with  the  assurance  that  there  was  where  "  the 
fellow  hung  out." 

"  You  can't  mistake  him,"  said  the  wag;  "he  is  a  large  fellow, 
and  puts  on  a  thundering  sight  of  airs  for  a  man  in  his  business. 
He  will  probably  refuse  to  do  it,  and  tell  you  to  go  to  the  devil. 
(He  has  been  drinking  some  to-day.)  But  do  n't  you  mind  that; 
make  him  come  out,  sure!" 

Off  posted  Jehu,  and,  entering  the  tent  where  our  Napoleon  of 
the  Fourth  Division  sat  in  a  deep  reverie,  probably  considering 
the  most  expeditious  method  of  expelling  the  rebel  Buckner  from 
his  native  State,  gave  him  a  slap  on  the  back  sufficient  to  annihi 
late  a  man  of  ordinary  size.  Springing  to  his  feet,  the  General 
confronted  his  uninvited  guest  in  a  moment. 

"  Well,  sir,  who  the  devil  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want,  sir?" 

"Old  chap,  I've  got  a  job  for  you — six  mules  to  be  curried, 
and  right  away,  too,"  said  the  captain  of  mules,  nothing  daunted 
by  the  flashing  eye  of  the  General. 

"  D — n  you,  sir!  What  do  you  mean,  sir?  Do  you  know  who 
I  am,  sir?" 

"  Yes,  sir-ee !  "  replied  Jehu,  elevating  his  voice  to  a  pitch  that 
rendered  the  words  audible  a  square  off;  "you  are  the  fellow 
that  Uncle  Sam  has  hired  to  curry  the  mules.  Come,  now,  I  do  n't 
want  any  foolishness  about  it.  Just  clean  them  there  mules,  and 
I  '11  give  you  a  drink  of  busthead." 

"You  infernal  villain!"  roared  the  General,  now  perfectly  fu 
rious,  "  I  am  General  Nelson,  commander  of  this  division." 

Jehu  placed  the  thumb  of  his  right  hand  against  his  nose,  and, 
extending  his  fingers,  waved  them  slowly,  in  a  manner  intended 
to  be  indicative  of  great  wisdom.  The  General's  sword  leaped 
from  its  scabbard,  and  Jehu  from  the  tent  just  in  time  to  save 
his  head.  By  this  time,  of  course,  the  Bourbon  had  been  duly 
cared  for,  and  in  it  the  boys  drank  the  "big  mule-driver's"  health 
with  a  gusto.  The  story  soon  got  wind,  and  is  now  the  standard 
joke  of  the  season. — "Nemo  "  to  the  Cincinnati  Commercial,  Jan 
uary  8,  1862. 

On  one  occasion,  when  General  Nelson  was  marching  through 
the  mountains  of  Eastern  Kentucky,  we  halted  for  the  night  in  a 


TRAINING   UNDER   NELSON.  553 

narrow  valley  between  two  mountains.  The  roads  were  very  bad, 
and  the  trains  continued  coming  in  at  all  hours  of  the  night.  The 
General  had  gone  to  bed,  not,  however,  until  he  had  abused  things 
in  general,  as  was  his  custom  when  men  and  movements  were  not 
"  on  time."  A  wagoner,  who  had  just  got  in,  espied,  sitting  be 
fore  a  camp-fire,  Mr.  Sam.  Owens,  a  man  -of  talent  and  infinite 
fun  withal,  then  serving  as  volunteer  aid  upon  General  Nelson's 
staff  (and.  at  that  particular  moment,  upon  the  stool  of  repent 
ance  for  having  sat  down  upon  the  General's  hat  a  little  while 
before).  The  driver  inquired  of  him  where  he  should  leave  his 
team.  "Just  beyond  you,  there,"  pointing  to  the  spot  as  he 
spoke ;  "  and,  when  you  have  taken  care  of  your  horses,  go  to  that 
tent  yonder,  the  second  one  from  here,  and  there  you  will  find  a 
big  fat  man,  sleeping  on  a  lounge.  Wake  him  up,  and  he  will 
give  you  some  hot  coffee.  The  quartermaster  thought  you  drivers 
would  need  it,  and  has  left  him  here  to  attend  to  it.  He  is  hard 
to  wake,  though,  the  quartermaster  says ;  you  will  have  to  grab 
him  right  tight,  and  give  him  a  good  pull,  then  a  push,  and  then 
roll  him  quick  and  fast,  like  you  would  a  barrel.  He  swears  a 
good  deal  when  he  is  first  waked  up,  and  will  try  to  frighten  you 
away;  but  just  you  hold  on  to  him  till  he  is  fairly  awake,  and  he 
will  give  mp." 

The  driver  obeyed  instructions  to  the  letter.  After  a  firm  grab, 
a  decided  pull,  and  a  vigorous  push,  with  a  "roll  like  a  barrel" 
at  the  end  of  it  all,  "Come,  old  chap!"  said  he,  "I  want  that 
coffee.  It's  no  use  to  swear  and  bluster;  it's  got  to  come!" 
Hardly  were  the  words  uttered,  when  General  Nelson  sprang  from 
his  couch,  and  the  volley  of  oaths  that  then  ensued  so  terrified 
the  poor  driver  that,  it  is  said,  his  hair  turned  gray. — Private 
Letter. 


While  I  am  speaking  of  General  Nelson,  let  me  tell  a  story 
which  I  have  just  heard,  prefacing  it  with  the  remark  that  I  have 
no  doubt  whatever  of  its  truthfulness. 

Riding  through  the  camp  of  one  of  his  sickliest  regiments,  the 
General  perceived  a  private  carrying  a  mackerel  in  his  hand. 

"What  is  that  you  have  in  your  hand,  sir?" 

"  A — a  mackerel,"  was  the  hesitating  reply. 

"Got  a  mackerel!  Well,  sir,  doesn't  your  commissary  give 
you  enough  to  eat?" 


554  THE   STOKY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"What  do  you  want  of  mackerel,  then?" 

"  Why,"  answered  the  now  thoroughly  frightened  man,  "  why, 
I  have  heard  that  mackerels  are  good  for  diarrhea." 

"  You  have  been  told  this,  sir!  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Who  is  your  captain,  sir?" 

"  Captain  Johnson." 

"  Well,  sir,  report  to  Captain  Johnson  whether  the  treatment 
proves  successful ;  and  if  it  does,  I  will  order  four  "hundred  barrels 
of  mackerel /" — "Zeke"  to  the  Cincinnati  Times,  January  26,  1862. 


General  Nelson  has  the  confidence  of  the  whole  division,  and, 
more  than  this,  is  really  liked  by  most  of  the  men,  notwithstanding 
the  coarseness,  the  regular  quarter-deck  style  of  his  manners.  I 
saw  him  perform  an  act  of  genuine  kindness  yesterday.  A  poor 
fellow,  belonging  to  the  Fiftieth  Indiana,  a  mere  boy  in  appear 
ance,  just  recovering  from  the  measles,  happened  to  encounter  the 
General  on  horseback  near  head-quarters.  "Old  Buster,"  (as  the 
boys  call  Nelson,)  stopped  him  and  demanded- to  know  his  busi 
ness  so  far  from  his  regiment;  whereupon  the  boy  tremblingly  pro 
duced  a  pass,  and  explained  that  he  had  come  over  to  the  bakery 
to  buy  some  bread ;  "  he  still  felt  right  weak,  had  n't  any  appe 
tite,  and  could  n't  go  hard-tack  now." 

"  Well,  sir,  and  why  did  n't  you  get  the  bread?" 

"Why,  they  asked  me  ten  cents  a  loaf,  and  five  cents  is  all 
I  've  got." 

"  I  '11  see  about  this.  Here  is  a  quarter ;  go  and  tell  that  ras 
cally  baker  to  give  you  five  loaves  of  bread  for  it — by  order  of 
General  Nelson!  And  if  he  doesn't  do  it,  come  and  report  to 
me,  sir ! " 

Before  the  poor  boy  could  collect  his  wits  sufficiently  to  begin 
stammering  out  his  thanks,  the  old  fellow  was  half-way  to  head 
quarters.  Soon  afterward  he  went  down  to  the  bakery  himself 
and  gave  the  baker  such  a  blowing  up  as  he  won't  soon  forget. 
What  made  the  case  a  good  deal  worse  for  the  latter  is,  that  the 
price  of  bread  is  the  subject  of  a  special  order,  fixing  it  at  five 
cents  a  loaf. — Private  Letter  from  a  Sixth  Ohio  soldier  at  Camp 
Wickli/e. 


TRAINING   UNDER   NELSON.  555 

Dr.  J.  Taylor  Bradford  is  responsible  for  the  following 

"  General  Nelson  said  to  me  one  day,  '  Bradford,  the  mothers  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio  boys,  were  all  blue  hens ! '  [Referring  to  an  anec 
dote  of  Captain  Caldwell,  a  recruiting  officer  of  the  Revolution, 
who  had  great  fondness  for  cock-fighting,  and  declared  that  no 
game  cock  was  reliable,  unless  from  a  blue  hen.]  They  are  good 
fighters;  they  have  more  talent  and  better  health,  have  more  well- 
bred  gentlemen  among  them  (and  some  bigger  rascals,  too,)  and 
are  harder  to  manage,  than  any  other  regiment  in  the  army  1' ' 


A  MILITARY  EXECUTION. 

On  the  afternoon  of  a  cold  and  cheerless  day  in  March,  1862,  I 
beheld,  for  the  first,  and  I  trust  the  last,  time,  a  military  execu 
tion.  Though  not  in  my  place  in  the  ranks  that  day,  I  was  one 
of  several  thousand  troops — infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  as 
sembled  in  obedience  to  the  following  order: 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  FOURTH  DIVISION,         *) 
CAMP  ANDREW  JACKSON,  TENN.,  March  4,  1862.  j 
[GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  26.] 

The  Fourth  and  Fifth  Divisions  will  assemble,  under  arms,  to 
morrow,  March  5th,  at  3  P.  M.,  to  witness  the  execution  of  pri 
vate  Michael  Connell,  Company  E,  Twenty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteers, 
condemned  to  be  shot  for  offering  violence  to  his  superior  officer. 
By  command  of 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  NELSON. 
J.  MILLS  KENDRICK,  A.  A.  A.  G. 

The  superior  officer  referred  to  was  Corporal  Alonzo  Pocock, 
Company  K,  Twenty -fourth  Ohio,  who,  being  on  duty  as  Corporal 
of  the  Guard,  attempted  to  arrest  Connell,  for  certain  disorderly 
proceedings  committed  while  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and  was 
fired  at  by  him  four  or  five  times  with  a  revolver,  though  without 
receiving  any  injury.  This  occurred  at  Camp  Wickliffe,  Kentucky, 
on  the  night  of  the  9th  of  January,  1862.  The  offender  was 
promptly  brought  before  a  General  Court-Martial,  of  which  Col 
onel  Stanley  Matthews  was  president,  where  he  pleaded  guilty,  and 
was  condemned  to  suffer  death  by  shooting ;  but,  as  he  had  been 
a  good  soldier  in  the  main,  and  some  time  had  elapsed  since  his 


556  THE   STORY   OF   A  REGIMENT. 

trial,  the  belief  had  been  gaining  ground  that  his  sentence  would 
be  commuted.  Such,  indeed,  was  the  hope  of  the  officers  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  and  of  his  comrades,  to  a  man. 

Promptly,  at  three  o'clock,  the  command  began  assembling  at 
the  spot  selected.  It  was  a  large  meadow,  with  a  hollow  running 
through  it,  whence  the  ground  sloped  upward  on  either  side,  form 
ing  a  kind  of  natural  amphitheater.  Some  time  was  consumed  in 
posting  the  troops,  which  was  done  in  such  a  manner  as  to  form 
three  sides  of  a  large  hollow  square,  a  number  of  regiments  being 
in  column  of  companies  arranged  in  echelon,  the  better  to  command 
a  view  of  the  execution.  At  four  o'clock,  the  actors  in  the  tragedy 
about  to  be  enacted,  entered  the  field,  in  the  following  order :  first, 
the  brass  band  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Ohio,  playing  a  dead  march; 
next,  a  squad  of  soldiers  under  a  lieutenant,  with  muskets  loaded 
by  other  hands,  for  the  terrible  duty  of  executioners ;  then,  the 
coffin,  of  pine  boards  planed,  on  a  bier  borne  by  four  men,  close 
behind  whom,  with  his  arms  pinioned,  followed  the  condemned, 
walking  in  cadenced  step  between  the  chaplain  of  his  regiment  and 
a  Catholic  priest  from  Nashville ;  last  of  all,  another  squad  of  sol 
diers.  Connell  was  a  tall,  fine-looking  Irishman,  of  perhaps  eight 
and  twenty  years  of  age  ;  his  step  was  firm  and  erect,  and  his  whole 
mien  undaunted  to  the  last.  Commencing  at  one  of  the  open  cor 
ners  of  the  square,  the  mournful  procession  moved  slowly  down 
the  lines,  around  the  inside  of  the  square,  and  finally  halted  in  the 
center.  The  coffin  was  placed  upon  the  ground,  and  Connell  took 
his  place  directly  in  front  of  it,  upon  one  side  of  a  tiny  streamlet 
flowing  down  the  hollow  before  described  ;  on  the  opposite  side, 
the  lieutenant  formed  his  squad,  facing  their  victim,  and  distant 
from  him  scarcely  a  dozen  paces.  Major  Hall,  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio,  in  a  firm,  clear  voice  read  the  general  order,  em 
bodying  the  proceedings  of  the  court-martial,  the  sentence,  and 
its  approval  by  General  Buell.  Then  the  eyes  of  the  doomed  man 
were  bandaged  with  a  white  handkerchief,  and  he  stood  alone  be 
fore  his  coffin.  The  thousands  who  were  looking  on,  with  bated 
breath,  were  as  still  as  statues.  "Ready!"  how  fearfully  distinct 
the  word  did  sound!  "  Aim  /"  At  this  instant  a  mounted  officer 
dashed  toward  the  lieutenant,  and  in  a  low  tone  delivered  some 
message,  which  I  at  first  thought  must  be  a  reprieve  ;  for  the  eight 
leveled  guns  were  at  once  brought  back  to  a  "  ready,"  the  band 
age  was  removed  from  the  eyes  of  the  victim,  and  the  chaplain 


TRAINING   UNDER   NELSON.  557 

and  priest  were  at  liis  side  in  a  moment.  They  remained  in  con 
versation  with  him  for  perhaps  five  minutes,  although  the  dreadful 
suspense  made  the  time  seem  much  longer.  "  Humph  !  "  said  a 
colonel,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  who  sat  on  his  horse  just  in 
front  of  me,  as  I  stood  upon  a  fence  watching  the  proceedings  with 
horror-struck  intentness:  "Are  they  all  this  time  absolving  him?" 
as  if  begrudging  the  poor  wretch  a  moment  more  of  life.  I  could 
have  felled  him  to  the  earth  for  the  heartless  words  !  Soon,  how 
ever,  the  bandage  was  replaced,  the  ministers  in  holy  things  again 
retired,  and  the  commands  were  repeated,  '•''Ready!  aim!  FIRE!" 
The  smoke  drifted  quickly  away;  he  sank  gently  down  upon  his 
coffin,  fell  over  on  his  right  side,  and  the  next  moment  a  lifeless 
corpse  rolled  heavily  forward  upon  the  grass.  Four  balls  took 
effect,  passing  through  the  left  breast — three  caps  missed  fire,  and 
one  man  did  not  pull  trigger.  Up  to  the  last  moment,  Nelson 
hoped  a  reprieve  would  yet  arrive  from  General  Buell,  and  it  was 
owing  to  this  hope  that  the  poor  wretch,  meeting  his  fate  so  bravely, 
had  been  granted  five  added  minutes  of  lengthened  misery  to  live. 
Returning  to  camp  when  all  was  over,  the  bands  went  playing 
"  The  girl  I  left  behind  me,"  but  the  men  followed  silent  and 
moody.  They  felt  that 

"Earthly  power  doth  then  show  likest  God's 
When  mercy  seasons  justice." 

Private  Manuscript. 


558  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


COMING    UP    AT    SHILOH.* 

THE  rain,  which  had  been  falling  steadily  since  shortly  after 
midnight,  ce'ased  at  day-break.  The  morning  dawned  slowly 
and  moodily,  above  the  wooded  hill-tops  that  rose  steeply 
from  the  farther  bank  of  the  creek  close  by,  right  over  against 
the  corn-field  in  which,  on  the  preceding  evening,  we  had  com 
fortably  pitched  our  camp.  The  bugle  wound  an  early  reveille  ; 
then  came  the  call  to  strike  tents,  (though  one-half  of  the  brigade 
was  yet  busy  in  hurried  preparations  for  breakfast),  and  presently 
the  assembly  sounded.  We  were  on  the  march  again  by  the  time 
the  sun  would  have  liked  to  greet  us  with  his  broad,  level-thrown 
smile  for  "  good  morning, "  if  the  sky  had  been  clear  and  open 
enough,  instead  of  covered,  as  it  was  on  this  damp,  chilly  April 
morning,  with  dull,  sullen  masses  of  cloud  that  seemed  still 
nursing  their  ill  humor  and  bent  on  having  another  outbreak. 
The  road  was  heavy ;  an  old,  worn  stage-coach  road,  of  a  slip 
pery,  treacherous  clay,  which  the  trampings  of  our  advanced 
regiments  speedily  kneaded  into  a  tough,  stiff  dough,  forming  a 
track  that  was  enough  to  try  the  wind  and  bottom  of  the  best. 
For  some  miles,  too,  the  route  was  otherwise  a  difficult  one — hilly, 
and  leading  by  two  or  three  tedious  crossings  in  single  file  over 
fords,  where  now  were  rushing  turbid,  swollen  streams,  gorging 
and  overflowing  their  banks  every-where,  in  the  channels  which, 
nine  months  out  of  the  twelve,  give  passage  to  innocent  brooklets 
only,  that  the  natives  of  these  parts  may  cross  barefoot  without 
wetting  an  ankle.  Spite  of  these  drawbacks,  the  men  were  in  fine 

*  This  chapter  is  abridged  from  a  paper  published  in  the  "  Continental 
Monthly  "  Magazine,  for  October,  1864.  It  was  written  by  a  former  member  of 
the  Sixth  Ohio. 


COMING   UP   AT   SHILOH.  559 

spirits ;  for  this  was  the  end  of  our  weary  march,  from  Nashville 
and  we  were  sure  now  of  a  few  days'  rest  and  quiet. 

A  few  minutes  after  midday  we  reached  Savanna,  and  were 
ordered  at  once  into  camp.  By  this  time  the  sky  had  cleared, 
the  sun  was  shining  brightly,  though,  as  it  seemed,  with  an  effort ; 
the  wind,  which  had  been  freshening  ever  since  morning,  was 
blowing  strong  and  settled  from  out  the  blue  west,  and  the  earth 
was  drying  rapidly.  The  Sixth  Ohio  and  a  comrade  regiment  of 
the  Tenth  Brigade  pitched  their  tents  in  an  old  and  well-cleared 
camping  ground,  on  a  gently-sloping  rise  looking  toward  the 
town  from  the  south-eastward ;  a  little  too  far  from  the  river  to 
quite  take  in,  in  its  prospect,  the  landing  with  its  flotilla  of 
transports  and  the  gunboats  which  they  told  us  were  lying  there, 
yet  not  so  far  but  we  could  easily  discern  the  smoke  floating  up 
black  and  dense,  from  the  boats'  chimney  stacks,  and  hear  the 
long-drawn,  labored  puffs  of  the  escape  pipes,  and  the  shrill 
signals  of  the  steam  whistles.  Altogether  our  camping  ground 
was  eligible,  dry,  and  pleasant. 

It  was  on  Saturday,  the  fifth  day  of  April,  1862,  that  the 
Fourth  Division,  being  the  advance  corps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  came  thus  to  Savanna,  and  so  was  brought  within  actual 
supporting  distance  of  the  forces  under  General  Grant  at  Pitts- 
burg  Landing,  ten  miles  up  the  farther  bank  of  the  Tennessee. 
General  Grant  had  his  head-quarters  at  Savanna,  and  there  im 
mediately  upon  our  arrival  our  commander  reported  his  division. 
Long  before  night,  camp-rumors  had  complacently  decided  our 
disposition  for  the  present.  Three  days  at  Savanna  to  allow  the 
other  corps  of  our  army  to  come  up  with  us,  and  then,  by  one 
more  easy  stage,  we  could  all  move  together  up  to  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  take  position  beside  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

There  was  but  an  inconsiderable  force  here,  composed,  for  the 
most  part,  of  new  troops  from  two  or  three  States  of  the  North 
west.  I  remember,  especially,  one  regiment  from  Wisconsin,  made 
up  of  great,  brawny,  awkward  fellows — backwoodsmen  and  lum 
bermen  chiefly — who  followed  us  to  Shiloh  on  the  next  evening, 
and  through  the  whole  of  Monday  fought  and  suffered  like 
heroes,  as  they  were.  Our  first  inquiries  were  concerning  our 
comrade  army,  and  the  enemy  confronting  it  at  Corinth.  Varied 
and  incongruous  enough  was  the  information  that  we  gleaned,  and 
in  some  details  requiring  a  simple  credulity  that  nine  months  of 


560  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

active  campaigning  had  quite  jostled  and  worried  out  of  us.  It 
seemed  settled,  however,  that  our  comrades  up  the  river  were  a 
host  formidable  in  numbers  and  of  magnificent  armament  and 
materiel;  altogether,  very  well  able  to  take  care  of  themselves,  at 
least,  until  we  could  join  them  at  our  leisure. 

There  were  some  things  which,  if  we  had  more  carefully  con 
sidered  them,  might,  perhaps,  have  abated  somewhat  this  pleasant 
conviction  of  security.  The  enemy  had  lately  grown  wonderfully 
bold  and  venturesome — skirmishing  with  picket  outposts,  bullying 
reconnoitering  parties,  and  picking  quarrels  upon  the  slightest 
provocation.  He  had  even  challenged  our  gunboats,  disputing 
the  passage  up  the  river  in  an  artillery  duel  at  the  bluffs  not 
far  above  the  landing,  whose  hoarse,  sullen  rumbling  had  reached 
us  where  we  were  resting  on  Thursday  afternoon,  at  the  distance 
of  thirty  miles  back  toward  Nashville.  But,  then,  on  how  few 
fields  had  Southern  chivalry  ever  yet  ventured  to  attack ;  how 
seldom,  but  when  fairly  cornered,  had  its  champions  deemed  dis 
cretion  not  the  better  part  of  valor  !  So  we  cast  aside  all  serious 
thought  of  immediate  danger  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  not  a  few  pro 
nouncing  these  demonstrations  of  a  foe  who  had  shown  our  army 
only  his  heels  all  the  way  from  Bowling  Green  and  Fort  Donelson, 
really  diverting  from  their  audacity. 

At  sunset,  the  Sixth  held  dress  parade — the  first  since  our 
march  from  Columbia ;  but  I,  on  duty  that  day  as  one  of  the 
"  reserve  guard,"  was  merely  a  looker-on.  I  was  never  prouder  of 
the  old  regiment  in  my  life ;  it  went  through  with  the  manual  of 
arms  so  well — and  in  the  presence,  too,  of  so  many  spectators 
from  other  regiments.  Orders  were  given  to  prepare  for  a 
thorough  inspection  of  arms  and  equipments  at  ten  o'clock  on  the 
next  morning,  then  parade  was  dismissed,  and  so  the  day  ended. 
The  wind  died  away,  and  the  night  deepened,  cool,  tranquil,  starlit, 
on  a  camp  of  weary  soldiery,  where  contentment  and  good-will 
ruled  for  the  hour  over  all. 

Beautifully  clear  and  calm  the  Sabbath  morning  dawned,  April 
6th,  1862  ;  rather  chilly,  indeed,  for  it  was  yet  in  the  budding 
time  of  spring.  But  the  sky  was  so  blue  and  cloudless,  the  air 
so  still,  and  all  nature  lay  smiling  so  serene  and  fair  in  the  glad 
sunshine — it  was  a  day  such  as  that  whereon  the  Creator  may 
have  looked  upon  the  new-born  earth,  and  "  saw  every  thing  that 
He  had  made,  and,  behold,  it  was  very  good ; "  a  day  as  if  chosen 


COMING   UP   AT   SHILOH.  .    561 

from  all  its  fellows  and  consecrated  to  a  hallowed  quiet,  the  bless 
edness  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving. 

Hardly  a  man  in  our  division,  I  believe,  but  awoke  that  morning 
with  a  happy  consciousness  of  long  hours  that  this  day  were  to  be 
his  own,  and  a  clear  idea  of  just  how  he  should  improve  them. 
My  programme  was  the  general  one,  and  simple  enough  it  was. 
First,  of  course,  to  make  ready  for  inspection,  and,  that  ceremony 
well  gotten  through  with,  to  enact  the  familiar  performance  of 
every  man  his  own  washerwoman  and  seamstress :  the  remainder 
of  the  day  should  be  devoted  to  the  soldier's  sacred  delight  of  cor 
respondence — to  completing  a  letter  to  Wynne,  begun  back  at 
Columbia,  and  writing  home.  Out  by  the  smoldering  fire,  where 
the  cooks  of  our  mess  had  prepared  breakfast  nearly  two  hours 
before,  I  was  busily  at  work  furbishing  with  the  dust-fine  ashes  the 
brasses  of  my  accouterments,  when  the  boom  of  cannon  burst 
upon  the  air,  rolling  heavily  from  away  to  the  southward  from 
what  we  knew  must  be  the  neighborhood  of  the  camps  at  Pitts- 
burg  Landing.  It  was  after  seven  o'clock.  The  sun  was  mount 
ing  over  the  scrubby  oak  copse  behind  our  camp,  and  the  day  grew 
warm  apace.  Another  and  still  another  explosion  followed  in 
quick  succession. 

What  could  it  mean?  Only  the  gunboats,  perhaps,  shelling 
guerrillas  out  of  the  woods  somewhere  along  the  river  bank.  Im 
possible  ;  too  near,  too  far  to  the  right,  for  that.  It  could  hardly 
be  artillery  practice,  for  to-day  was  the  Sabbath.  And  the  young 
est  soldier  among  us  knew  better  than  to  give  those  rapid,  furious 
volleys  the  interpretation  of  a  formal  military  salute.  Could  it 
really  be— battle  ? 

Every  man  almost  was  out  and  listening  intently.  Louder  and 
fiercer  the  reports  came,  though  still  irregular.  Now  and  then,  in 
the  intervals,  a  low,  quick  crepitation  reached  us,  an  undertone 
that  no  soldier  could  fail  to  recognize  as  distant  musketry. 
Ominous  sounds  they  were,  portending  what — if  not  actual  battle? 
If  a  battle,  then  certainly  an  attack  by  the  enemy.  Were  our 
comrades  up  at  the  landing  prepared  for  it? 

The  first  cannon  had  not  long  been  fired  when  General  Nelson 
rode  by  toward  Grant's  head-quarters,  aids  and  orderlies  following 
upon  the  gallop.  Presently  came  orders : 

"  Three  days'  rations  in  haversacks,  strike  tents,  and  pack  up. 
36 


562  THE   STOEY   OF   A   EEGIMENT. 

Be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  They  are  fighting  up  at 
the  landing." 

There  was  no  need  for  further  urging.  By  ten  o'clock  every 
disposition  for  the  march  had  been  completed.  Nearly  three  long 
hours  more  we  waited  with  feverish  anxiety  for  the  final  command 
to  start,  while  the  roar  of  that  deathly  strife  fell  distantly  upon 
our  ears  almost  without  intermission,  and  a  hundred  wild  rumors 
swept  through  the  camp.  General  Grant  had  gone  up  the  river 
on  a  gunboat  soon  after  the  cannonading  began.  A  few  minutes 
after  midday  we  struck  tents,  were  furnished  with  a  new  supply 
of  cartridges  and  caps  for  our  Eufields,  and  waited  several  min 
utes  longer.  At  length  the  column  formed,  and,  though  still 
without  orders,  except  those  which  its  immediate  commander  had 
assumed  the  responsibility  to  give,  the  Fourth  Division  started. 
The  Tenth  Brigade  had,  as  usual,  the  advance,  and,  in  our  regular 
turn,  the  Sixth  came  the  third  regiment  in  the  column.  We  had 
just  cleared  the  camping  grounds,  I  well  remember,  when  General 
Nelson  rode  leisurely  down  the  line,  his  eye  taking  note  with  the 
rapid  glance  of  the  real  soldier  of  every  minutiae  of  equipments 
and  appearance  generally.  Some  natures  seem  to  find  in  antagon 
ism  and  conflict  their  native  element,  their  chief  good — yet  more, 
almost  as  much  a  necessity  of  their  moral  organism  as  to  their 
animal  being  is  the  air  they  breathe.  Such  a  nature  was  Nel 
son's.  His  face  to-day  wore  that  characteristic  expression  by 
which  every  man  of  his  command  learned  to  graduate  his  ex 
pectation  of  an  action ;  it  was  the  very  picture  of  satisfaction  and 
good  humor.  He  wheeled  his  horse  half-way  around  as  the  rear 
of  our  brigade  passed  him,  and  a  blander  tone  of  command  I  never 
heard  than  when,  in  his  quick,  authoritative  manner,  he  rang 
out : 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  keep  the  column  well  closed  up! "  and  passed 
on  toward  the  next  brigade. 

Gentlemen !  how  oddly  the  title  comes  to  sound  in  the  ears  of 
a  soldier ! 

From  Savanna  to  the  Tennessee,  directly  opposite  Pittsburg 
Landing,  is,  by  the  course  we  took,  perhaps  ten  miles.  The  route 
was  only  a  narrow  wagon-path  through  the  woods  and  bottoms 
bordering  the  river,  and  the  wisdom  was  soon  apparent  which  had 
beforehand  secured  the  services  of  a  native  as  guide.  Most  of  the 
latter  half  of  the  distance  was  through  a  low,  slimy  swamp  land, 


COMING  UP  AT  SHILOH.  563 

giving  rank  growth  to  an  almost  continuous  forest  of  sycamore, 
cotton-wood,  and  other  trees  which  love  a  damp,  alluvial  soil, 
whose  massive  trunks  were  yet  foul  and  unsightly  with  filth  and 
scum  deposited  by  the  receding  waters  at  the  subsidence  of  the 
river's  spring  freshet  a  month  before.  Stagnant  ponds  and  mimic 
lagoons  lay  all  about  us,  and  in  our  very  pathway,  some  of  the 
deeper  ones,  however,  rudely  bridged.  Very  rapid  progress  was 
impossible.  It  had  been  found  necessary  to  leave  our  artillery  at 
Savanna,  whence  it  would  have  to  be  brought  up  on  the  trans 
ports.  The  afternoon  wore  on,  warm  and  sultry,  and  the  atmos 
phere  in  those  dank  woods  felt  close  and  unwholesome.  Not  a 
breath  of  air  stirred  to  refresh  the  heated  forms  winding  in  long, 
continuous  line  among  the  dark  boles  of  the  trees,  through  whose 
branches  and  leafless  twigs  the  sunlight  streamed  in  little  broken 
gleams  of  yellow  brightness,  and  made  a  curious  checker-work  of 
sheen  and  shadow  on  all  beneath.  Burdened  as  we  were  with 
knapsacks  and  twenty  extra  rounds  of  ammunition,  the  march 
grew  more  and  more  laborious.  But  the  noise  of  battle  was 
sharpening  every  few  minutes  now,  and  the  men  pushed  forward. 
It  was  no  child's  game  going  on  ahead  of  us.  We  might  be 
needed. 

We  were  needed.  A  loud,  tumultuous  cheer  from  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Indiana  came  surging  down  through  the  ranks  of  the  Twen 
ty-fourth  Ohio  to  our  own  regiment,  and  away  back  beyond  to  the 
Twenty-second  and  Nineteenth  Brigades  in  the  rear.  "  Forward  !  " 
and  we  were  off  on  the  double-quick.  General  Nelson  was  at  the 
head  of  the  column.  There  a  courier  had  met  him.  with  urgent 
orders  to  hasten  up  the  reinforcements ;  the  enemy  were  pressing 
hard  for  the  landing.  Unmindful  of  all  impediments — trees  and 
fallen  logs,  shallow  ponds  and  slippery  mire  shoe-top  deep ;  now 
again  moderating  our  pace  to  the  route  step  to  recover  breath  and 
strength  ;  even  halting  impatiently  for  a  few  minutes  now  and 
then,  while  the  advance  cleared  itself  from  some  entanglement  of 
the  way — so  the  remainder  of  our  march  continued.  It  seemed 
a  long  way  to  the  landing,  the  battle  dinning  in  our  ears  at  every 
step.  At  length  it  sounded  directly  ahead  of  us,  and,  looking 
forward  between  the  tree-tops,  a  good  eye  could  easily  discover  a 
dark  cloud  of  smoke  hanging  low  in  mid-air  over  the  battle-field. 
Suddenly  we  debouched  into  a  level  corn-field,  extending  quite  to 
the  river's  verge.  The  clearing  was  not  a  wide  one,  and  the  fur* 


564  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ther  bank  of  the  Tennessee  was  in  plain  sight — the  landings, 
the  bluff,  and  the  woods  above  stretching  away  out  and  back  be 
yond. 

What  a  panorama !  The  river  directly  before  us  was  hidden 
by  a  narrow  belt  of  chaparral  and  the  drift  that  had  lodged  along 
the  banks,  but  the  smoke-stacks  of  three  or  four  transports  were 
visible  above  the  weed-stalks  and,  bushes,  and  the  course  of  one 
or  two  more  could  be  traced  by  a  trailing  line  of  smoke  as  they 
steamed  down  toward  Savanna.  The  opposite  bank  rises  from  the 
river  a  steep  acclivity,  perhaps  a  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  perpen 
dicular  height,  down  whose  sides  of  brownish-yellow  clay  narrow 
roadways  have  been  cut  to  the  landings  below.  Cresting  the  bluff, 
woods  overlooked  the  whole  and  shut  in  the  scene  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  follow  the  windings  of  the  Tennessee.  In  their  depths  the 
battle  was  raging  with  unabated  fury.  A  short  distance  up  the 
river,  though  completely  hidden  from  view  by  an  intervening  bend, 
the  gunboats  were  at  work,  and  even  our  unpracticed  ears  could 
easily  distinguish  the  heavy  boom  of  their  great  thirty-two  pounders 
in  the  midst  of  all  that  storm  of  artillery  explosions.  Glorious  old 
Tyler  and  Lexington !  primitive,  ungainly,  weather-beaten  wooden 
craft,  but  the  salvation,  in  this  crisis  hour  of  the  fight,  of  our  out 
numbered  and  well-nigh  borne-down  left.  A  signal  party,  stationed 
a  little  above  the  upper  landing,  and  half-way  up  the  bluff,  was 
communicating,  in  the  mystic  language  of  the  code,  with  another 
upon  our  side  the  river.  The  steep  bank  was  covered  with  a 
swaying,  restless  mass  of  blue-uniformed  men,  too  distant  to  be 
distinctly  discriminated,  yet  certainly  numbering  thousands.  "Re 
serves!"  a  dozen  voioes  cried  at  once,  and  the  next  moment  came 
the  wonder  that  our  march  had  been  so  hurried,  when  whole  bri 
gades,  as  it  seemed,  were  thus  held  in  idle  waiting.  We  were  soon 
undeceived. 

Out  into  the  corn-field  filed  the  column,  up  the  river,  and  nearly 
parallel  to  it,  halting  a  little  below  the  upper  one  of  the  two  prin 
cipal  landings.  Here  there  was  a  further  delaying  for  ferriage. 

"Stack  arms;  every  man  fill  his  canteen,  then  come  right  back 
to  the  ranks!" 

Not  to  the  Tennessee  for  water — there  was  no  time  to  go  so 
far — but  close  at  hand,  at  a  pond,  or  little  bayou  of  the  river; 
and,  returning  to  the  line  of  stacks,  a  few  more  long,  unquiet 
minutes  in  waiting,  and  eager  gazing  toward  the  battle.  And  then 


.    COMING  UP  AT  SHILOH.  565 

we  saw  what  that  dark,  turbulent  multitude  over  the  river  was : 
oh,  shame !  a  confused  rabble,  composed  chiefly  of  men  whose 
places  were  rightly  on  the  field,  but  who  had  turned  and  fled  away 
from  the  fight  to  seek  safety  under  that  bluff. 

Forward  again,  and  the  regiment  moved,  with  short,  aggravating 
halts,  up  to  the  point  on  the  river  where  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana 
had  already  embarked,  and  was  now  being  ferried  over.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Ohio  crossed  at  the  lower  landing.  There  were  a 
number  of  country  folks  here,  whose  intense  anxiety  to  see  every 
movement  visible  on  the  farther  side  of  the  river  kept  them  shift 
ing  their  positions  continually.  One  of  these  worthies  was  hailed 
from  our  company  : 

"Say,  old  fellow!  how's  the  fight  going  on  over  there?" 

He  was  an  old  and  somewhat  diminutive  specimen,  grizzle 
haired  and  stoop  shouldered,  but  yellow  and  withered  from  the 
effects  of  sun  and  tobacco  rather  than  the  burden  of  years.  For 
a  moment  he  hesitated,  as  though  guarding  his  reply,  and  then, 
with  a  side-long  glance  of  the  eyes,  answered  slowly : 

"  Well,  it  are  n't  hardly  decided  yet,  I  reckon ;  but  they  're 
a  drivin'  your  folks — some." 

Evidently  he  believed  that  our  army  had  been  badly  beaten. 

The  emphatic  rejoinder,  "D d  old  secesh  !"  was  the  sole  thanks 

his  ^formation  brought  him,  the  characterization,  aside  from  the 
accented  epithet,  being  doubtless  a  just  one. 

A  minute  later  we  passed  a  sergeant,  whose  uniform  and  bright 
red  chevrons  showed  that  he  was  attached  to  some  battery.  He 
was  mounted  upon  a  large,  powerful  horse,  and  seemed  a  man  of 
considerable  intelligence. 

"Do  the  rebels  fight  well  over  there?"  demanded  a  voice  from 
the  column  a  half-dozen  files  ahead  of  me. 

"Guess  they  do!  Anyway.  Jit  well  enough  to  take  our  battery 
from  us — every  gun,  and  some  of  the  caissons." 

Another  soldier  met  us,  unencumbered  with  blouse  or  coat  of 
any  kind,  his  accouterments  adjusted  over  his  gray  flannel  shirt, 
and  his  rifle  sloped  carelessly  back  over  his  shoulder.  His  eyes 
were  bloodshot,  and  his  face,  all  begrimed  with  smoke  and  gun 
powder,  wore  an  expression  haggard  and  gaunt.  He  was  a  sharp 
shooter,  he  told  us,  belonging  to  some  Missouri  regiment,  and  had 
been  out  skirmishing  almost  ever  since  daylight,  with  not  a 
mouthful  to  eat  since  the  evening  before.  His  cartridges — and  he 


566  THE   STOKY    OF   A   REGIMENT. 

showed  us  his  empty  cartridge-box — had  given  out  the  second 
time,  and  he  was  "used  up."  In  his  hat  and  clothes  were 
several  bullet  holes ;  but  he  had  been  hit  but  once,  he  said,  and 
then  by  only  a  spent  buckshot. 

"Boys,  I'm  glad  you're  come,"  he  said.  "It's  a  fact,  they 
"have  whipped  us  so  far ;  but  I  guess  we  've  got  'em  all  right  now, 
How  many  of  Buell's  army  can  come  up  to-night?" 

A  hurried,  many-voiced  reply,  and  hastening  on  past  a  hetero 
geneous  collection  of  soldiery — couriers,  cavalry-men,  malingerers, 
stragglers,  a  few  of  the  slightly  wounded,  and  camp  followers  of 
all  sorts — we  quickly  reached  the  river's  brink.  The  boat  was 
lying  close  below.  Twenty  feet  down  the  crumbling  bank, 
slipping  or  swinging  down  by  the  roots  and  twigs  of  friendly 
bushes,  the  regiment  lost  but  little  time  in  embarking.  The 
horses  of  our  field  officers  were  somehow  got  on  board,  and,  with 
crowded  decks,  the  little  steamer  headed  for  the  landing  right 
over  against  us.  Two  or  three  boats  were  there  hugging  the 
shore,  quiet  and  motionless,  and  there  were  still  more  at  the 
lower  landing.  One  or  two  of  these  the  deck  hands  pointed  out 
to  us  as  magazine  boats,  freighted  with  precious  stores  of  ammu 
nition,  and  the  remainder  were  now  being  used  as  hospital  boats. 
The  wounded  had  quite  filled  these  latter,  and  several  hundred 
more  of  the  day's  victims  had  already  been  sent  to  Savanna. 
One  of  the  gunboats,  fresh  from  its  glorious  work  beyond  the 
bend,  shortly  came  in  sight,  moving  slowly  down  stream,  as 
though  reconnoitering  the  bank  for  some  inlet  up  which  its  crash 
ing  broadsides  could  be  poured  with  deadliest  effect,  if  the  enemy 
should  again  appear  in  sight. 

An  informal  command  to  load  was  given  us  presently,  but 
many  had  already  anticipated  it.  How  terribly  significant  be 
comes  the  simple  mechanism  of  loading  a  rifle  when  one  knows 
that  it  is  the  preparation  for  deadly  battle !  The  few  details 
which  we  could  gather  from  the  deck  hands  concerning  the  fight 
were  meager  and  unsatisfactory.  They  told  us  of  disaster  that 
befell  our  army  in  the  morning,  and  which  it  seemed  very 
doubtful  if  the  afternoon  had  yet  seen  remedied ;  and  their  testi 
mony  was  borne  out  by  evidences  to  which  our  own  senses  were 
unwilling  witnesses.  The  roar  of  battle  sounded  appallingly  near, 
and  two  or  three  of  our  guns  were  in  vigorous  play  upon  the 
enemy  so  close  on  the  crest  of  the  bluff  that  every  flash  could  be 


COMLSG   UP   AT   SHILOH.  567 

seen  distinctly.  Several  shells  from  the  enemy's  artillery  swept 
by,  cleaving  the  air  many  feet  above  us  with  that  peculiar,  fierce, 
rushing  noise,  which  no  one,  I  believe,  can  hear  for  the  first  time 
without  an  instinctive  feeling  of  dismay  and  awe. 

At  the  landing — but  how  shall  I  attempt  to  set  that  picture 
forth?  I  have  never  yet  seen  told  in  print  the  half  of  that 
sickening  story.  Wagons,  teams,  and  led  horses,  quartermaster's 
stores  of  every  description,  bales  of  forage,  caissons — all  the 
paraphernalia  of  a  magnificently  appointed  army — were  scattered 
in  promiscuous  disorder  along  the  bluff-side.  Over  and  all  about 
the  fragmentary  heaps,  thousands  of  panic-stricken  wretches 
swarmed  from  the  river's  edge  far  up  toward  the  top  of  the 
steep ;  a  mob  in  uniform,  wherein  all  arms  of  the  service  and 
well-nigh  every  grade  were  commingled  in  utter  confusion;  a 
heaving,  surging  herd  of  humanity,  smitten  with  a  very  frenzy  of 
fright  and  despair,  every  sense  of  manly  pride,  of  honor,  and  duty, 
completely  paralyzed,  and  dead  to  every  feeling  save  the  most 
abject,  pitiful  terror.  A  number  of  officers  could  be  distinguished 
amid  the  tumult,  performing  the  pantomimic  accompaniments  of 
shouting  incoherent  commands,  mingled  with  threats  and  entreaties. 
There  was  a  little  drummer  boy,  I  remember  too,  standing  in  his 
shirt  sleeves  and  pounding  his  drum  furiously,  though  to  what 
purpose  we  could  not  divine.  Men  were  there  in  every  stage  of 
partial  uniform  and  equipment;  many  were  hatless  and  coatless, 
and  but  few  retained  their  muskets  and  their  accouterments  com 
plete.  Some  stood  wringing  their  hands,  and  rending  the  air  with 
cries  and  lamentations,  while  others,  in  the  dumb  agony  of  fear, 
cowered  behind  the  object  that  was  nearest  them  in  the  direction 
of  the  enemy,  though  but  the  crouching  form  of  a  comrade. 
Terror  had  concentrated  every  faculty  upon  two  ideas,  and  all  else 
seemed  forgotten :  danger  and  death  were  behind  and  pressing 
close  upon  them  ;  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  whither  their  eyes 
were  turned  imploringly,  there  was  the  hope  of  escape  and  an 
opportunity  for  further  flight. 

Meanwhile,  louder  than  all  the  din  and  clamor  else,  swelled  the 
roar  of  cannon  and  the  sharp  continuous  rattle  of  musketry  in  the 
wood^  above.  There  other  thousands  of  our  comrades — many 
thousands  they  were,  thank  God ! — were  maintaining  an  unequal 
struggle,  in  which  to  further  yield  would  be  inevitable  destruc 
tion.  Brave,  gallant  fellows !  more  illustrious  record  than  they 


568  THE   STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

made  who  here  stood  and  fought  through  all  these  terrible  Sab- 
*bath  hours  need  no  soldier  crave.  There  has  been  a  noble 
redemption,  too,  of  the  disgrace  which  Shiloh  fastened  on  those 
poor,  trembling  fugitives  by  the  river-side.  That  disgrace  was  not 
an  enduring  one.  On  many  a  red  and  stubborn  battle-field  those 
same  men  have  proudly  vindicated  their  real  manhood,  and  in 
maturer  military  experience  have  fought  their  way  to  a  renown 
abundantly  enough,  and  more  than  enough,  to  cover  the  derelic 
tions  of  raw,  untrained,  and  not  too  skillfully  directed  soldiery. 

There  was  a  rush  for  the  boat  when  we  neared  the  landing,  and 
some,  wading  out  breast  deep  into  the  stream,  were  kept  off  only  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Close  by  the  water's  edge  grew  a  clump 
of  sycamores.  Up  into  one  of  these  and  far  out  on  a  projecting 
limb  one  scared  wretch  had  climbed,  and,  as  the  boat  rounded  to, 
poised  himself  for  a  leap  upon  the  hurricane  deck ;  but  the  venture 
seemed  too  perilous,  and  he  was  forced  to  give  it  up  in  despair. 
The  plank  was  quickly  thrown  out,  guards  were  stationed  to  keep 
the  passage  clear,  and  we  ran  ashore.  Until  now  there  had  been 
few  demonstrations  of  enthusiasm,  but  here  an  eager  outburst  of 
shouts  and  cheers  broke  forth  that  well-nigh  drowned  the  thunder- 
ings  of  battle.  Not  waiting  to  form  on  the  beach,  the  men,  as  they 
debarked,  rushed  up  the  bank  by  one  of  the  winding  roadways. 
The  gaping  crowd  parted  right  and  left,  and  poured  upon  us  at 
every  step  a  torrent  of  queries  and  ejaculations.  "It's  no  use;" 
"gone  up;"  "cut  all  to  pieces;"  "the  last  man  left  in  my  com 
pany" — so,  on  all  sides,  smote  upon  our  ears  the  tidings  of  disaster. 
Much  fewer,  but  cheery  and  re-assuring  were  the  welcomes:  "Glad 
you've  come;"  "Good  for  you;"  "Go  in,  boys;"  "Give  it  to  'em, 
Buckeyes" — which  came  to  us  as  we  passed. 

We  gained  the  summit  of  the  bluff.  A  few  hundred  yards  ahead 
they  were  fighting  ;  we  could  hear  the  cheering  plainly,  and  the  woods 
echoed  our  own  shouts  in  response.  The  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  had 
already  been  pushed  forward  toward  the  extreme  left  of  our  line, 
and  was  even  now  in  action.  General  Nelson  had  crossed  half  an 
hour  earlier.  The  junior  member  of  his  staff  had  had  a  saddle 
shot  from  under  him  by  a  chance  shell  from  the  enemy,  to  the 
serious  detriment  of  a  fine  dress-coat,  but  he  himself  marvelously 
escaping  untouched.  Two  field-pieces  were  at  work  close  upon 
our  left,  firing  directly  over  the  heads  of  our  men  in  front ;  only  a 
random  firing  at  best,  and  I  was  glad  when  an  aid-de-camp  galloped 


COMING   UP   AT   SHILOH.  569 

down  and  put  a  stop  to  the  infernal  din.  Amid  this  scene  of  inde 
scribable  excitement  and  confusion,  the  regiment  rapidly  formed. 
Our  knapsacks — were  we  going  into  action  encumbered  with  them? 
The  order  was  shouted  to  unsling  and  pile  them  in  the  rear,  one 
man  from  each  company  being  detailed  to  guard  them.  It  was 
scarcely  more  than  a  minute's  work,  and  we  formed  again.  A 
great  Valkyrian  yell  swelled  out  suddenly  along  the  line,  and, 
looking  up,  I  saw  General  Nelson  sitting  on  his  big  bay  in  front 
of  the  colors,  his  hat  lifted  from  his  brow,  and  his  features  all 
aglow  with  an  expression  of  satisfaction  and  indomitable  purpose. 
He  was  speaking,  but  Company  B  was  on  the  left  of  the  regiment, 
and,  amidst  the  storm  of  huzzas  pealing  on  every  side,  I  could 
not  catch  a  single  word.  Then  I  heard  the  commands,  "Fix 
bayonets !  trail  arms !  forward !"  and  at  the  double-quick  we 
swept  on,  up  through  the  stumps  and  underbrush  to  the  support 
of  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana.  A  few  score  rods  were  gained,  and 
we  halted  to  recover  breath  and  perfect  another  alignment.  The 
firing  in  our  front  materially  slackened,  and  presently  we  learned 
that  the  last  infuriate  charge  of  the  enemy  upon  the  left  had  been 
beaten  back.  We  were  told  to  rest  where  we  lay,  until  further 
orders.  The  sun  sank  behind  the  rise  off  to  our  right,  a  broad, 
murky  red  disk,  in  a  dense,  leaden-hued  haze  ;  such  a  sunset  as 
in  spring-time  is  a  certain  betokening  of  rain.  By  this  time  can 
nonading  had  entirely  ceased,  and  likewise  all  musketry,  save  only 
a  feeble,  dropping  fire  upon  our  right.  Those  sounds  shortly  died 
away,  and  the  battle  for  that  day  was  over.  Night  fell  and  spread 
its  fuueral  pall  over  the  field. 

On  that  field,  freely  and  generously  had  been  poured  of  the 
nation's  best  blood,  and  many  a  nameless  hero  had  sealed  with  his 
life  a  sublime  devotion  fur  surpassing  the  noblest  essay  of  eulogy 
and  all  the  extolments  which  rhetoric  may  recount.  Thank  God, 
those  sacrifices  had  not  been  wholly  fruitless  !  The  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  although  at  most  precious  cost,  had  succeeded  in  staying 
the  living  waves  of  Southern  treason  until  the  Army  of  the  Ohio 
could  come  up,  and  Shiloh  was  saved.  The  next  day  saw  those 
waves  rolled  back  in  a  broken,  crimson  current,  whose  ebb  ceased 
only  when  the  humiliated  enemy  rested  safe  within  his  fortifica 
tions  at  Corinth. 


570  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


BATTLE-PICTURES    FROM    SHILOH. 

ON  THE  BATTLE-FIELD.— (PRIVATE  MS.) 

SHILOH  was  the  first  great  battle  I  saw  during  the  war.  I  was 
then  a  private  in  the  Sixth  Ohio  Regiment,  belonging  to  Am- 
men's  brigade,  under  General  Nelson,  whose  division  was  the 
foremost  one  of  Buell's  army  to  come  to  the  succor  of  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee.  The  Sixth  Ohio  was  a  few  minutes  too  late  to 
assist  the  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  (which  had  crossed  the  river  just 
before  us),  in  repelling  the  last  charge  upon  the  Union  left;  and 
while  we  rested  in  line  of  battle,  a  short  distance  behind  that 
gallant  command,  waiting  for  orders,  the  closing  in  of  night  put 
an  end  to  the  combat  for  that  day.  For  two  or  three  hours  a 
young  moon  gave  us  a  little  glimmering  light,  there  in  the  shad 
ows  of  the  wood,  and  by  it  I  saw  a  comrade,  Benson,  trying  to 
make  an  entry  in  his  pocket  diary.  Just  then  the  captain  called 
me,  and  I  found  sitting  beside  him  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  an  old 
acquaintance  from  Cincinnati,  then  a  lieutenant  in  Payther  Jay's 
regiment,  attached  to  the  division  of  General  Sherman.  He  had 
been  under  fire  all  day,  without  a  mouthful  of  food,  except  a 
couple  of  crackers  that  one  of  his  men  had  given  him,  and  said  he 
was  fagged  out.  He  took  off  his  cap,  and  showed  us  the  visor  shot 
entirely  away  by  a  ball  which  had  grazed  his  temple.  We  asked 
him  a  hundred  questions;  in  few  words,  he  told  us  the  fight  had 
gone  steady  against  us  all  day,  but  we  were  all  right  now — Buell 
and  Lew  Wallace  would  turn  the  tables  completely  in  the  moruiug. 
That  man  you  can  see  on  'Change,  in  Cincinnati,  every  day;  and  if 
you  had  the  same  recollections  that  I  have,  of  his  quiet,  manly 
utterances  on  that  night  between  two  battles,  it  could  not  but  in 
spire  the  same  hearty  respect  that  I  feel  every  time  I  take  his 
friendly  hand. 


BATTLE-PICTURES   FROM   SHILOH.  571 

Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  we  were  moved  forward  some 
distance,  in  dead  silence,  save  for  the  crackling  of  the  twigs,  and 
an  occasional  muttered  command  passed  down  the  line ;  for  by  this 
time  it  was  growing  very  dark,  and  orders  were,  that  every  thing 
should  be  done  quietly,  so  that  the  rebel  pickets  should  not  hear 
us.  No  supper,  no  tires,  and  with  most  no  blankets,  our  knap 
sacks  having  been  left  in  a  pile  on  the  bluff,  when  we  first  lauded. 
Fortunately,  I  had  strapped  my  India-rubber  blanket  over  my 
cartridge-box  belt,  instead  of  on  my  knapsack,  before  leaving 
Savanna,  and  now  it  proved  most  useful.  I  was  just  getting  ready 
to  wrap  up  in  it  and  lie  down,  when  two  horsemen  rode  up,  and 
one  of  them  leaning  forward  in  his  saddle,  said,  in  a  tone  scarcely 
above  a  whisper,  "Is  Colonel  Anderson  here?"  "No,  sir,  he  is 
on  the  right."  "Pass  the  word  down  the  line  that  General  Nelson 
is  on  the  left,  and  wishes  to  see  Colonel  Anderson!"  A  figure 
was  soon  seen  coming  from  the  right,  and  then  I  heard  the  follow 
ing  orders  given  in  the  same  low  tone  as  before :  "  Colonel  Ander 
son,  I  want  you  to  send  forward  two  companies,  under  two  of  your 
best  and  most  trusty  officers,  to  examine  the  ground  that  we  must 
pass  over  in  the  morning,  and,  if  possible,  to  ascertain  where  the 
enemy  are,  and  see  if  the  gunboats  have  their  range.  Let  the 
men  press  forward  earnestly  and  silently,  until  they  meet  the 
pickets  of  the  enemy;  but,  on  no  account,  let  them  fire,  not  even 
if  fired  on.  They  must  be  resolute,  and  the  enemy  will  fall  back 
before  them." 

How  glad  I  was  that  Company  B  was  not  detailed  for  such  a 
duty  as  that!  About  half  an  hour  later,  a  crash  of  musketry  off 
upon  our  right  front  told  us  that  the  companies  chosen  for  it,  from 
the  right  wing,  had  begun  their  work.  A  member  of  Company  F 
was  mortally  wounded  by  that  volley,  though  we  did  not  learn  the 
fact  until  next  morning.  Every  ten  minutes  through  the  night 
we  heard  a  heavy  boom  from  the  gunboats,  at  the  river  behind  us, 
and  the  next  moment  a  thirty-two  pound  shell  would  go  sweeping 
by,  over  the  tree-tops,  toward  the  rebel  lines.  A  heavy  thunder 
storm  about  midnight  ushered  in  a  rain  which  continued  till  near 
dawn.  Amid  such  surroundings,  an  oppressed  feeling  of  un 
certainty  and  suspense  naturally  pervaded  the  ranks,  and  made  alJ 
wish  for  daylight. 

The  gray  light  of  Monday  morning  was  just  struggling  through 
the  gloom  and  haze,  when  the  men  were  roused,  bedrenched,  be- 


572  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

numbed,  and  thoroughly  miserable,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle. 
What  would  I  not  have  given  for  a  cup  of  coifee,  after  that  dismal 
night's  experience !  But  there  was  no  time  for  breakfast,  though 
I  did  put  a  few  pieces  of  crackers  into  my  mouth,  from  a  stern 
sense  of  duty  to  my  inner  man,  and  washed  them  down  with  Ten 
nessee  River  water,  as  we  stood  waiting  in  line.  Following  the 
skirmishers,  we  started.  Colonel  Amrnen,  mounted  on  old  "  Bob," 
rode  along  our  front,  as  we  moved  forward,  and  I  shall  never  for 
get  his  telling  us,  in  his  easy,  drawling  way,  "  Now,  boys,  keep 
cool;  give  'em  the  best  you've  got!  "  And,  surely,  no  man's  ex 
ample  was  ever  more  in  keeping  with  his  precept  than  "  Old 
Jakey's  "  was  that  day.  Holding  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union 
line,  his  brigade  was  severly  tried,  and  more  than  once  the  utmost 
of  his  trained  skill  was  called  into  requisition,  to  hold  it  steady  in 
its  place ;  yet,  on  only  one  occasion,  did  I  perceive  the  faintest 
trace  of  flurry  in  his  face  or  manner — that  was  when,  having 
borrowed  Captain  Terrill's  field-glass,  he  rode  out  in  front  of  the 
battery  to  reconuoiter  the  enemy  and  Terrill  let  off  a  Napoleon 
directly  in  old  "  Bob's"  rear.  It  was  too  much  for  the  nerves 
of  that  exemplary  veteran — he  broke  and  ran,  straight  toward 
the  rebel  line.  Colonel  Ammen  had  his  hand  on  the  reins  in  an 
instant,  but  he  had  narrowly  escaped  being  thrown,  and,  for  just  a 
moment,  he  appeared  really  disconcerted. 

In  the  course  of  our  advance,  we  had  to  cross  three  or  four 
ravines,  (in  one  of  which  I  sank  over  shoe-tops  in  mud),  and  also 
passed  through  the  camp  of  .General  Hurlbut's  division,  as  we  after 
ward  learned  it  to  be,  beautifully  situated  in  a  little  level  clearing 
about  half  a  mile  from  our  starting-place.  The  woods  contained 
a  great  deal  of  underbrush,  and  this,  with  the  broken  nature  of 
the  country,  made  it  necessary  to  halt  quite  frequently  and  correct 
our  alignment ;  so  that  we  were  nearly  an  hour  in  gaining  a  mile 
of  ground,  the  rebel  pickets  falling  back  as  ours  advanced.  Not 
far  beyond  Hurlbut's  camp,  we  came  to  a  portion  of  the  battle 
field  which  had  been  hotly  contested  on  Sunday,  and  here  the 
ground  was  strewn  with  dead  and  wounded,  among  whom  our  own 
men  largely  predominated.  A  considerable  number  of  wounded 
had  crawled  or  been  carried  to  one  of  the  ravines;  out  of  range  of 
the  fire  which  swept  the  slopes  above.  Many  had  died  there,  and 
others  were  in  their  last  agonies  as  we  passed.  Their  groans  and 
cries  were  heart-rending.  One  poor  fellow  begged  most  piteously 


BATTLE-PICTURES   FROM   SHILOH.  573 

to  be  put  out  of  his  misery,  and  another  kept  repeating,  "  0  God, 
have  mercy!  0  God,  0  God!"  until  we  passed  out  of  hearing. 
The  gory  corpses  lying  all  about  us,  in  every  imaginable  attitude, 
and  slain  by  an  inconceivable  variety  of  wounds,  were  shocking  to 
behold,  but  they  made  no  sign  and  claimed  no  recognition;  their 
Bufferings  were  over.  Not  so  with  the  wounded.  Strangely  soon 
a  soldier  grows  accustomed  to  the  society  of  the  dead  upon  the 
battle-field,  until  he  can  thread  his  way  among  them  almost  uncon 
cerned,  but  hardened  he  must  be,  beyond  all  reclamation,  who  can 
steel  his  heart  against  the  cries  and  prayers  for  help  of  the 
wounded  and  the  dying.  If  they  who  lightly  talk  of  war,  even 
now,  so  soon  after  the  nation's  late  great  agony,  could  only  see, 
and  for  themselves  experience  the  horrors  of  even  one  great  battle, 
they  would  speak  the  little,  fearful  word  with  less  of  levity  and 
inconsiderate  heat  of  temper  than  they  do. 

Reaching  a  peach  orchard  on  the  right  of  what  we  afterward 
ascertained  was  the  Hamburg  road,  our  skirmishers  developed  the 
enemy's  main  line,  advantageously  posted  on  a  wooded  crest  be 
yond  the  orchard,  and  the  battle  opened  in  earnest.  My  company 
was  detached  to  reenforce  the  skirmishers  thrown  forward  on  the 
left  to  prevent  the  rebels  from  turning  our  flank  in  that  direction. 
We  kept  pretty  well  together  for  nearly  an  hour,  but  after  that 
every  man  did  what  seemed  good  in  his  own  eyes,  much  in  the 
style  of  the  ancient  Israelites.  I  had  a  piece  shot  out  of  the  left 
elbow  of  my  blouse,  and  also  had  a  narrow  escape  from  being 
wounded  in  the  canteen.  At  one  time,  during  a  brief  lull  in  the 
firing,  we  recaptured  a  cannon  which  the  enemy  had  taken  from 
our  men  the  day  before,  and  I  helped  to  drag  it  away  to  our  lines. 
We  had  to  pass  a  fallen  tree,  near  which  were  resting  several  of 
our  men,  in  their  weariness  lying  and  sitting  on  the  ground.  They 
all  got  up  as  we  approached,  except  one,  who  appeared  to  be 
asleep.  "Get  up  here!"  said  Captain  Wilmington,  "can't  you 
see  this  cannon  coming  right  over  you?"  He  did  not  stir.  The 
captain  shook  him,  but  still  no  motion.  Then  they  turned  him 
over,  and  I  saw  the  brains  exuding  from  a  bullet-hole  just  above 
the  right  eye;  he  was  dead — cold  and  stark. 

Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  under  a  perfect  tempest  of  shot 
and  shell  from  two  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  scarcely  six  hundred 
yards  distant,  our  brigade  began  to  waver,  and  more  than  once  I 
thought  it  must  yield — the  fire  was  so  hot,  and  we  had  not  one 


574  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

cannon  wherewith  to  answer  it.  I  knew  that  help  had  been  sent 
for,  and  looking  around  over  my  right  shoulder,  with  what  joy  I 
saw  artillery  coming  through  the  woods  at  a  gallop  !  It  was 
Captain  Terrill's  battery  of  regulars,  just  up  from  Savanna  by 
boat,  with  Terrill  himself — splendid  officer  and  soul  of  knightliest 
honor — riding  ahead  of  it.  He  dashed  out  to  the  edge  of  the 
wood,  and,  with  a  single  sweep  of  the  eye  taking  in  the  whole 
situation,  waved  his  hand  for  the  battery  to  wheel  into  position, 
and  in  less  than  two  minutes  was  hurling  shell  across  the  orchard 
into  the  rebel  ranks.  His  second  shot  blew  up  a  caisson,  and  in 
an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  our  line  was  sensible  of  great 
relief. 

How  it  carried  me  back  to  other  times,  and  yet  not  happier 
ones,  to  hear,  amid  the  roar  and  racket  of  the  battle,  the  well- 
remembered  voice  of  the  censor  of  the  Burritt  Society,  at  Farmer's 
College,  now  giving  the  words  of  command  to  a  section  of  Terrill's 
battery !  Ludlow  fought  his  pieces  splendidly,  and  part  of  his 
honors  we  claimed,  because  he  was  once  the  "  Little  Corporal  "  of 
our  own  Company  A. 

When  our  division  halted,  at  rest  in  line  of  battle,  after  having 
cleared  its  immediate  front  of  rebels,  I  saw  many  of  our  jaded  men 
asleep  upon  the  ground,  although,  at  no  great  distance  upon  the 
right,  the  battle  was  still  dinning  in  our  ears.  I  was  lucky  in 
getting  a  place  at  the  foot  of  a  sapling,  where,  with  my  arms 
folded  over  my  faithful  Enfield,  I  dozed  quite  comfortably  for 
about  ten  minutes.  The  division  afterward  moved  out  the  Ham 
burg  road,  through  the  camps  of  Stuart's  brigade,  nearly  to  the 
Lick  Creek  ford,  meeting  on  the  way  a  man  belonging  to  some 
Iowa  regiment,  whose  right  eye  had  been  shot  out.  His  face  be 
ing  covered  with  blood  and  terribly  disfigured,  he  presented  a 
ghastly  spectacle.  After  supper,  Goettle  and  I  went  down  to  a 
ravine  just  beyond  our  halting  place,  and  found  several  hospital 
tents  there,  put  up  by  the  rebels,  of  course,  and  crowded  with 
wounded,  whose  groans  and  cries  would  have  melted  a  heart  of 
stone.  When  we  came  back,  the  company  had  gone  out  on  picket, 
but  no  one  could  tell  us  where,  and  we  were  not  sorry  to  have  to 
stay  behind  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment.  The  night  was  rainy 
and  very  dark.  Sergeant  Cormany  told  us  next  morning  that, 
wishing  to  change  his  picket  station  for  one  more  sheltered,  he 
stepped  to  a  neighboring  tree,  and  sat  down  upon  a  log,  as  he  sup- 


BATTLE-PICTURES   FROM   SHILOH.  575 

posed  it  to  be,  but  which  daylight  revealed  as  a  dead  rebel,  lying 
upon  his  face  at  the  foot  of  the  tree. 

Next  morning,  the  men  were  roused  before  daylight,  and  the 
whole  division  formed  in  line  of  battle;  but  as  soon  as  it  was  dis 
covered  that  the  rebels  were  still  retreating,  we  moved  back  to  the 
camping  grounds  of  Stuart's  brigade,  and  the  Sixth  Ohio  began 
making  itself  comfortable  in  and  near  the  old  camp  of  the  Seventy- 
first  Ohio.  A  squad  of  Snivelers — for  that  was  the  name  of  our 
mess — built  a  fire  at  an  old  stump,  and  had  just  boiled  their  much- 
needed  coffee,  when  General  Nelson  rode  up  and  dismounted  at 
Colonel  Anderson's  quarters,  under  a  tree,  near  by.  Little  Davy, 
our  corporal,  said  that  if  he  only  had  some  sugar  to  put  in  it,  he 
would  offer  the  General  a  cup  of  coffee.  I  supplied  him  with 
sugar,  and,  blushing  like  a  girl,  Davy  gracefully  tendered  the  Gen 
eral  his  tin-cup,  full,  fragrant,  and  steaming  with  a  decoction  of 
genuine  Rio.  Nelson  took  the  cup  with  the  blandest  of  thanks, 
his  whole  face  lighting  up  as  he  did  so.  He  afterward  brought  the 
cup  back  himself,  praised  the  coffee,  and  told  Davy  he  had  never 
tasted  any  thing  in  his  life  that  did  him  more  good — it  was  just 
what  he  had  been  wanting.  It  was  a  trifling  incident,  yet  I  shall 
never  forget  it;  and  whenever  I  hear  men  talking  about  the  bru 
tality  and  coarseness  of  General  Nelson,  that  scene  always  rises 
before  me,  as  distinct  as  though  I  had  just  witnessed  it. 

Heavy  details  began  burying  the  dead  that  same  afternoon.  On 
our  immediate  front,  at  least,  the  rebels  were  generally  buried  first, 
the  Union  dead  being  left  longer,  in  order  to  afford  surviving 
friends  opportunities  for  recognizing  them.  A  hundred  yards  from 
Company  B's  place  of  bivouac,  the  burial  party  dug  a  trench  about 
fifty  feet  long,  six  feet  wide,  and  three  or  four  feet  deep,  toward 
which  they  continued  bringing  rebel  dead  nearly  all  the  afternoon. 
I  saw  more  than  twenty  bodies  lying  on  the  edge  of  the  trench  at 
one  time.  One  corpse  was  that  of  a  handsome,  intelligent  looking 
man,  with  a  fine  forehead  and  jet-black  hair.  He  had  both  legs 
broken  by  a  cannon-ball,  and  having  somehow  got  his  trowsers  off, 
he  was  in  white  cotton  drawers  only,  and  they  were  stiff  with 
blood.  The  face  was  very  white — he  must  have  bled  to  death  within 
five  minutes  after  being  struck.  The  bodies  were  laid,  side  by 
side,  upon  their  backs,  in  the  bottom  of  the  trench,  and  the  earth 
being  shoveled  in,  a  little  heap  of  yellow  clay  was  all  that  remained 
to  mark  the  nameless  sepulcher  of  our  country's  enemies.  Our 


576  THE   STORY   OF  A   KEGIMENT. 

own  dead  were  buried  with  more  care.  A  favorite  method  of  pre 
paring  them  for  interment  was  to  fasten  the  arms  across  the  breast 
with  the  cross-belt  from  the  man's  own  equipment,  and  the  knees 
close  together  with  his  cartridge-box  belt.  Many  were  buried 
singly,  and  all  those  who  could  be  identified  had  rough  head-boards 
planted  over  them,  made  from  the  sides  of  cracker-boxes,  barrel- 
staves,  and  the  like,  while,  in  other  cases,  a  pen  of  rails  was  built 
around  the  grave.  Many  a  mausoleum  on  which  a  fortune  was 
lavished  has  been  less  honored  than  these  rude  devices  were,  as 
the  shrines  of  true  and  uuforgetting  affection. 

To  my  mind,  the  most  awful  sights  upon  the  field  of  Shiloh  were 
discovered  in  those  parts  of  the  wood  where  the  leaves  and  brush 
wood  had  been  set  on  fire  by  the  gun-boat  shells.  There  many  a 
blackened  corpse  was  found,  with  the  clothing  burnt  to  a  cinder 
upon  it,  and  the  features  swollen  and  discolored  past  all  recogni 
tion  ;  and  some  of  these  were  in  such  attitudes  as  to  compel  the 
sickening  fear  that  death  must  have  come  in  more  dreadful  form 
than  even  the  wounds  which  stretched  them  helpless  on  the  earth. 
One  fearful  spot  that  our  brigade  fought  over  was  a  ravine,  that 
we  named  the  Valley  of  Death,  near  the  peach  orchard  before  men 
tioned.  It  was  thickly  strewn  with  Union  dead,  chiefly  from  the 
Ninth  Illinois,  Company  B  of  which  regiment  had  been  flanked  in 
that  position,  as  appearances  indicated,  and  had  left  more  than 
twenty  of  its  members,  including  First  Lieutenant  Vogel,  lying 
there,  within  less  than  the  length  of  one-fourth  the  regimental  front. 
One  of  them,  George  L.  Lehr — I  remember  the  name  perfectly — 
lay  upon  his  back  (as  did  a  large  majority  of  all  the  dead  that  I 
saw)  with  a  letter  clutched  firmly  in  his  right  hand,  which  was 
thrown  across  his  breast,  as  if  to  furnish  the  means  of  identifica 
tion  to  any  who  should  find  his  corpse.  It  was  Thursday  noon 
before  the  last  of  the  dead  were  buried,  by  which  time  a  ghastly 
green  mold  had  overspread  their  features.  More  than  a  week  after 
the  battle,  our  company,  when  on  picket,  found  and  buried  a  corpse 
in  a  swampy  thicket  beyond  the  old  camp  of  the  Seventy-first  Ohio; 
also,  an  unexploded  thirty-two  pound  shell  from  one  of  the  gun 
boats. 

A  workman,  says  a  homely  proverb,  is  known  by  his  chips.  In 
a  log-hut,  back  at  the  landing,  our  regimental  surgeon — "  the  Great 
Eastern,"  as  our  boys  used  irreverently  to  call  him — was  kept  busy 
for  two  days  and  nights  after  the  battle,  in  cutting  off  legs  and 


BATTLE-PICTURES    FROM   SHILOH.  577 

arms,  and  finally  accumulated  a  pile  of  those  dissevered  members, 
just  outside  the  door,  nearly  three  feet  high.  Thank  God,  although 
my  lot  was  afterward  to  learn,  by  terrible  experience,  the  agonies 
that  a  wounded  man  can  undergo,  yet  live,  I  was  not  one  of  the 
helpless,  neglected  sufferers  sent  northward  from  the  field  of  Shiloh. 


AN  OFFICER'S  RECOLLECTIONS.— (PRIVATE  MS.) 

Reaching  the  river  opposite  Pittsburg  Landing, 

we  saw  the  battle  right  before  us.  Drums  were  beating,  musketry 
crashed  and  crackled  incessantly,  artillery  answered  artillery,  and 
the  rebel  shells  were  even  beginning  to  drop  upon  our  side  of  the 

Tennessee Of  our  regiment,  three  companies  went 

over  first :  Company  A,  Captain  Westcott ;  Company  F,  Lieutenant 
Thatcher,  and  Company  D,  Lieutenant  Gee.  The  rest  of  the  regi 
ment  was  to  follow  by  another  boat.  That  on  which  we  embarked 
was  nearly  full  of  'wounded  men,  but  our  boys  felt  that  there  was 
work  to  do,  and  hardly  stopped  to  look  at  them.  The  boat  landed; 
my  company  was  the  first  to  get  off,  and  up  the  narrow  road  to 
the  top  of  the  bluff  we  went,  with  Company  D  behind  us.  Com 
pany  A,  being  on  the  hurricane  deck,  could  not  get  off  so  quickly, 
but  followed  immediately,  Captain  Westcott  at  its  head.  As  we 
hurried  up  the  bank,  some  of  the  wounded  greeted  us  with  re 
marks  that  did  the  boys  good.  Ooe,  whose  side  was  torn  open 
by  a  shell,  said :  "  God  bless  those  men !  they  mean  business ! 
Just  see  how  they  march  !  "  Another  said  :  "  You  're  just  in  time, 
boys;  we'll  lick  'em  yet!"  Thousands  upon  thousands  of  able- 
bodied  men  were  there  also — the  cowards !  They  told  us  we  were 
cut  to  pieces,  the  battle  was  lost,  etc.,  and  from  the  wounded  men 
alone  did  we  get  any  encouragement. 

At  the  top  of  the  bank  we  met  General  Nelson.  He  asked  us 
what  command  we  were.  I  answered,  "  Three  companies  of  the 
Sixth  Ohio."  Said  he  :  "  Sixth  Ohio,  I  expect  a  good  account 
from  you  !  Report  to  Colonel  Grose,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana.  South- 
gate  (one  of  his  aids  taken  from  our  regiment),  show  them  where 
to  go."  We  marched  to  the  rear  of  the  Thirty-sixth,  which  was 
already  in  line.  Shells  were  whizzing  overhead,  and  men  were 
being  wounded,  behind  us  even.  Colonel  Grose  was  in  front  of 
his  regiment,  as  cool  as  an  iceberg.  I  told  him  we  had  three 
37 


578  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

companies  to  report  to  him.  He  said  he  was  glad  to  have  us  with 
him,  and  told  us  where  to  form,  and  I  then  hurried  back  to  the 
men.  About  a  hundred  stragglers  had  been  got  together  by  some 
officers,  and  formed  just  in  front  of  us  ;  but  just  at  this  time  a 
shell  came  plunging  along  close  to  our  heads,  and  the  stragglers 
scattered  quicker  than  a  flash  of  lightning.  They  troubled  us  no 
more  after  that.  We  were  ordered  to  advance ;  then  the  order 
was  countermanded,  and  the  Thirty-sixth  moved  forward  alone 
toward  a  battery,  which  the  rebels  were  just  getting  ready  to 
charge.  The  gallant  Thirty-sixth  gave  them  the  compliments  of 
Buell's  army,  and  the  first  lick  from  that  hard  old  hitter,  General 
Nelson.  We  advanced  to  a  hollow,  a  position  where  we  could 
protect  the  left  flank  of  the  Thirty-sixth,  but  Grose's  men  did 
not  need  such  help,  doing  their  work  most  splendidly  without  us. 
The  battle  soon  died  away,  and  the  rebels  retired  to  refresh  them 
selves  for  the  next  day's  contest,  which  was  to  drive  us  to  the 
water's  edge.  For  once,  however,  they  counted  too  fast.  Buell 
was  on  the  ground,  and  all  night  long  his  troops  were  arriving 
and  getting  into  position  for  the  morrow's  struggle. 

About  ten  o'clock  we  were  ordered  in  from  our  station  in  the 
hollow,  to  join  the  regiment,  which  was  then  in  position  in  rear 
of  a  battery.  The  night  was  dark  as  Egypt;  no  one  had  any 
supper,  aud  fires  were  forbidden.  The  company  had  just  got  fixed, 
when  orders  came  for  Companies  A  and  F  to  reconnoiter  the 
country  in  front,  and  also  to  see  whether  the  gunboats  had  the 
correct  range.  We  were  not  to  halt  until  we  found  the  enemy, 
nor  on  any  account  to  fire,  even  if  attacked.  A  countersign  and 
rallying  cry  were  furnished  us  before  starting.  Captain  Brutton 
took  the  first  platoon,  and  I  the  second ;  each  threw  out  a  section 
as  skirmishers,  and  out  we  went,  groping  along  in  the  darkness 
upon  our  hands  and  knees.  The  moans  of  the  mangled  and  dying 
were  dreadful  to  hear,  and  the  bravest  of  our  number  could  not 
help  shuddering  when,  every  once  in  awhile,  our  hands  would 
come  in  contact  with  a  warm,  dead  body,  or  a  soft,  slimy  substance, 
that  we  knew  was  clotted  blood.  Every  few  minutes  the  gunboats 
would  send  a  shell  shrieking  over  our  heads,  but  the  noise  they 
made  was  welcome  as  the  voice  of  a  friend.  On  we  went  until 
suddenly,  off  to  our  right,  on  Captain  Brutton's  front,  we  heard 
the  cry,  "  Who  comes  thar?  "  There  was  no  mistaking  the  accent. 
"  Friend,  with  the  countersign,"  was  the  answer.  "  Who  comes 


BATTLE-PICTURES   FROM   SHILOH.  570 

thar?"  was  repeated,  followed  the  next  instant  by  a  volley  of 
musketry.  Both  platoons  rallied  at  once.  We  counted  our  num 
ber,  and  one  man  was  missing — poor  Brocksmith  could  not  be 
found.  He  had  received  a  horrible  wound  while  in  the  act  of 
giving  the  countersign,  never  dreaming  that  he  had  come  upon  a 
rebel  outpost;  and  walking,  or  crawling  rapidly,  to  the  rear  for  help, 
he  had  missed  the  company,  and  gone  back  without  speaking  a 
word  or  making  any  sign.  The  next  morning  we  learned  that  he 
had  found  his  way  to  the  regimental  hospital,  and  died  in  the  arms 
of  our  hospital  steward. 

Moving  forward  again  with  increased  caution,  we  came  in  sight 
of  the  rebel  fires,  and  then  halted.  Soon  afterward  a  terrible 
rain  storm  commenced.  We  sent  in  regular  reports,  as  ordered, 
till  early  dawn,  when  our  company  advanced  as  skirmishers,  to 
find  Brocksmith,  if  possible,  as  at  that  time  we  had  not  heard  a 
word  from  him.  Through  the  woods  the  division  soon  appeared 
in  sight,  moving  in  line  of  battle  toward  us ;  and,  having  no 
definite  orders,  Captain  Brutton  and  I  deployed  the  whole  com 
pany,  and  advanced  along  with  the  rest  of  the  skirmishers,  com 
prising  one  company  from  each  regiment  in  the  division,  under  the 
direction  of  Captain  Brown,  of  the  Second  Kentucky.  Going  on 
through  one  of  the  Union  camps  captured  on  Sunday,  we  came  to 
a  place  where,  a  few  hundred  yards  ahead  of  us,  we  saw  the  rebel 
cavalry  moving  about  among  the  tents  and  trees.  Skirmishing 
began  at  once,  and  the  rebels  fell  back,  our  men  in  pursuit,  firing 
as  they  went  whenever  they  could  see  a  good  opportunity.  Through 
other  camps,  past  our  own  and  rebel  hospitals,  over  the  dead  and 
wounded,  up  hill  and  down,  on  we  went,  with  the  full  line  of  bat 
tle  a  few  hundred  yards  behind  us.  Presently  the  rebels  opened 
on  us  with  artillery — one  or  two  pieces  pushed  forward  some  dis 
tance  beyond  their  main  line  ;  but  we  continued  to  press  them 
back  until  we  reached  an  orchard,  by  which  time  the  firing  had 
become  hot  on  both  sides.  Here  the  skirmishers  of  the  First  and 
Second  Kentucky  gave  a  cheer  and  started  forward,  double-quick. 
Answering  with  another  cheer,  away  went  our  boys,  too,  but  had 
not  gone  very  far,  when  suddenly  we  found  ourselves  in  a  perfect 
hail-storm  of  bullets.  We  had  rushed  up  to  a  rebel  line  of  battle, 
hitherto  concealed,  and  now  the  gentlemen  in  gray  thought  they 
had  us.  We  respectfully  declined  receiving  more  of  their  atten 
tions  until  we  could  meet  them  on  something  like  equal  terms, 


580  THE   STORY   OF  A   REGIMENT. 

and  tastily  withdrew  to  the  edge  of  the  wood,  back  of  the  or 
chard.  Soon  afterward  our  company  was  recalled  from  the  skir 
mish  line,  and  rejoined  the  regiment.  Then  commenced  the  battle 
in  earnest. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    A    LETTER.* 

While  crossing  the  river  on  Sunday  evening,  and  before  we  had 
landed,  I  noticed  a  lady  on  the  hurricane  deck  of  another  boat, 
laden  with  troops,  just  by  us,  who  appeared  to  be  expostulating 
with  a  group  of  soldiers.  She  seemed  to  be  much  excited,  and 
waved  her  hand  in  the  direction  of  the  battle.  Another  young 
woman,  on  the  same  boat,  was  wringing  her  hands  and  weeping. 
As  our  company,  in  disembarking,  passed  her,  she  exclaimed : 
"  Men,  you  must  fight  for  your  country,  or  die  !  "  The  words 
were  answered  by  a  cheer.  Being  landed,  we  hurried  up  the 
banks.  As  I  ran  by,  I  thought  I  would  learn  from  the  "reserve" 
what  I  could  of  the  progress  of  affairs  ;  but,  looking  around,  noth 
ing  but  mangled  men,  and  terrified  able-bodied I  will  pass  it 

over.  The  sickening  sight,  and  the  exclamations,  "  The  day  is 
lost!"  "There  is  a  panic,"  etc.,  were  beginning  to  unnerve  me,  so 
I  closed  my  eyes  and  ears  to  all  that  was  going  on  around,  and  ran 
along.  On  top  of  the  bank  we  were  cheered  by  the  sight  of  Nel 
son,  with  his  well-known  "fatigue"  coat  and  feathered  hat.  "Sixth 
Ohio,  I  expect  a  good  account  from  you  !  "  "Yes,  yes  !  hurrah  !  " 
and  our  walking  pace  was  changed  into  a  double-quick. 

After  hostilities  had  ceased  on  Monday  evening,  our  brigade 
inarched  out  beyond  the  futhermost  camps,  then  in  our  possession 
again,  but  presenting  a  scene  of  desolation.  Soon  all  were  busy 
preparing  supper  from  provisions  of  the  commissaries,  which, 
luckily,  had  not  all  been  carried  away  by  the  enemy.  I  am  not  a 
friend  to  fat  pork,  but  it  tasted  sweet  to  me  that  evening.  While 
we  were  getting  supper,  a  flag  of  truce,  consisting  of  a  yellow 
handkerchief  tied  to  a  sapling  pole,  emerged  from  the  woods  be 
yond  us.  It  was  carried  by  a  tall  Alabamian,  who  brought  with 
it  the  wounded  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fiftieth  Illinois,  borne 

*  Written  by  Sergeant  Nicholson,  of  Company  K,  Sixth  Ohio,  and  published 
in  full  in  the  Cincinnati  Commercial,  whence  it  was  transferred  to  the  "  Rebel 
lion  Record,"  Vol.  IV. 


BATTLE- PICTURES    FROM   SHILOH.  581 

on  a  litter.  The  bearers  had  pieces  of  white  rags  tied  on  their 
arms,  which  I  learned  designated  a  detail  for  hospital  duty.  I 
am  glad  to  be  able  to  say  something  good  of  an  army  of  traitors ; 
we  will  "give  the  devil  his  due."  Andy  Hickenlooper  tells  me  that 
one  of  his  corporals,  who  was  wounded,  received  many  attentions 
from  the  rebels.  An  officer  handed  him  a  rubber  blanket,  saying 
that  though  he  himself  needed  it  bad  enough,  the  wounded  man 
needed  it  worse.  Others  brought  him  food  and  water,  and  wrapped 
him  up  in  woolen  blankets.  Such  instances  were  not  uncommon. 
I  had  captured  an  overcoat  and  blanket  on  the  field,  and  expected 
to  pass  the  night  more  comfortably  than  that  of  Sunday.  Throw 
ing  the  cape  of  the  cloak  over  my  head,  and  rolling  myself  up  in 
the  blanket,  I  was  soon  in  a  deep  sleep — the  only  dream  I  had 
being  that  every  soldier  was  shaking  with  the  ague;  in  the  midst 
of  which  I  awoke,  to  find  the  rain  pouring  in  torrents,  and  my 
self  lying  in  a  pool  of  water.  Fires  were  not  allowed,  and  we 

shivered  through  the  remainder  of  the  night 

Great  praise  is  due  to  the  general  and  staff  officers  of  the  Fourth 
Division.  Nelson  was  constantly  riding  up  and  down,  a  conspicu 
ous  mark  for  sharpshooters,  and  his  aids  were  flying  about  in  all 
directions  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  Buell  also  attended  to  his 
business  like  a  true  general,  riding  about  all  parts  of  the  field. 
^Old  Jakey  Ammen,"  our  acting  brigadier,  took  matters  as  quietly 
as  if  he  was  only  drilling  his  brigade ;  and  once  having  found  a 
pile  of  corn,  sat  down  coolly  to  husk  it  for  his  horse,  not  even 
deigning  to  escape  the  showers  of  bullets  by  seeking  the  shelter 
of  a  tree. 


282  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 


IN  THE  BANKS  AT  STONE  RIVER.* 

/CHRISTMAS  came  to  us  in  camp  at  last.  Christmas-day,  but' 
\J  not  the  good  old  Christmas  times — social,  generous,  "inerry 
Christmas  !"  To  us  it  was  only  December  25,  1862. 

We  had  been  for  some  weeks  quietly  encamped  near  Nashville. 
Almost  the  entire  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  in  this  vicinity, 
stretched  away  out  on  the  various  roads  centering  here  from  the 
southward,  waiting  and  watching  the  rebel  Army  of  Tennessee, 
massed  under  Bragg  at  Murfreesboro',  thirty  miles  distant.  An 
army  of  repose,  truly  ;  but  it  was  not  the  repose  of  stagnation  or 
sloth,  as  the  manifestations  of  life  and  life-like  energy  every-where 
bore  abundant  testimony.  It  was  only  an  unwilling  passivity,  a 
period  of  needful  rest  and  discipline,  while  the  army  could  gather 
strength  and  its  chief  complete  preparations  for  the  work  it  was 
to  do.  For  days  past  we  had  now  been  under  marching  orders. 
Even  the  hour  and  the  order  of  march  had  once  or  twice  been  set 
— and  still  we  were  here.  So  that  when  the  orderly-sergeant, 
coming  to  our  tent  this  Christmas  night,  just  after  tattoo,  peered 
in  at  the  aperture  of  the  door  heM  open  with  both  hands,  and 
oracularly  pronounced,  "Reveille  in  the  morning  at  four  o'clock; 
march  at  daylight,  with  three  days'  rations!"  we  received  the 
announcement  with  all  the  philosophical  indifference  that  doubt 
could  engender.  But  this  time  there  was  no  need  to  doubt,  and 
next  morning,  December  26,  1862,  we  moved  forward  toward 
Murfreesboro'. 

The  Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  lately  been  divided  into  three 
corps,  since  numbered  as  the  Fourteenth,  Twentieth,  and  Twenty- 

*This  sketch  and  its  sequel,  "  In  Hospital  after  Stone  River,"  were  originally 
published  in  Harper's  Magazine,  for  November,  1863,  and  January,  1864,  respec 
tively.  They  were  written  by  a  corporal  of  Company  B,  Sixth  Ohio,  during 
convalescence  at  a  general  hospital  in  Cincinnati. 


IN   THE   RANKS   AT   STONE   RIVER.  583 

first,  commanded  respectively  by  Major- Generals  Thomas,  McCook, 
and  Crittenden.  The  former  two,  constituting  our  center  and  right 
wing,  advanced  upon  the  roads  leading  from  Nashville  to  Franklin 
and  Nolensville.  The  route  of  the  latter,  as  the  left  wing,  was  by 
turnpike  direct  to  Murfreesboro' — having,  of  course,  the  other 
corps  upon  its  right.  Of  this  corps  our  division  formed  a  part> — 
the  "Iron-clad  Division,"  organized  by  the  iron  Nelson,  whom  it 
had  followed  through  a  long  campaign  of  toil  and  danger. 

The  day  opened  dark  and  gloomily.  Certainly  the  elements  at 
least  were  not  propitious.  The  soft  southerly  breezes  of  the  day 
before  had  roughened  into  rude,  spiteful  gusts,  blowing  from  a 
dozen  points  of  the  compass  all  at  once — chill,  sweeping  gusts,  that 
came  freighted  with  the  breath  of  coming  storms,  and  great  heaving 
masses  of  clouds,  which,  drifting  slowly  along  the  upper  deep, 
covered  away  out  of  sight  every  bit  of  blue  sky  beyond,  and  robbed 
even  the  daylight  of  all  its  life,  and  power,  and  beauty.  Four  short 
miles  from  the  camp  we  were  leaving,  and  seven  from  Nashville,  is 
the  State  Lunatic  Asylum  of  Tennessee ;  but  though  we  led  off  at 
a  steady,  swinging  gait,  we  had  not  yet  reached  it  when  the  storm 
came  upon  us.  A  steady,  persistent,  pouring  rain,  whose  every 
component  drop  seemed  to  find  a  malicious  delight  in  plashing  in 
our  faces  and  discovering  every  practicable  breach  in  the  rubber 
blankets  under  which  those  of  us  who  were  fortunate  enough  to 
possess  them  sought  to  find  shelter.  Delusive  hope!  and  so  we 
presently  found  it.  As  the  rain  grew  harder,  and  the  wind  settled 
keen  from  the  west,  we  halted  by  the  road-side,  and  squatting 
down  in  the  mud  or  resting  our  dripping  forms  against  the  picket- 
fence,  waited  neafrly  an  hour.  But  we  had  not  seen  eighteen 
mouths  of  field  service  now'for  the  first  time  to  experience  the 
discomforts  and  hardships  of  active  campaigning,  or  to  learn  the 
harder  lesson  of  patience  in  the  midst  of  untoward  circumstances 
which  we  were  powerless  to  improve.  What  could  we  do  but 
simply  "stand  and  take  it,"  just  as  a  matter  of  course — as  if  we 
were  only  sponges?  I  was  glad  when  at  length  we  were  ordered 
to  "  fall  in,"  and  the  march  was  resumed.  It  must  have  been 
somewhat  after  noon — the  soldier,  mind  you,  is  not  always  able  to 
take  accurate  note  of  time — when  the  rain  ceased,  leaving  us 
several  hours  before  night  wherein  to  experience  the  delights  of 
the  steaming  process,  and  attain  a  not  very  disagreeable  condition 
of  mere  humidity. 


584  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Tramp,  tramp  in  the  mud  and  rain,  onward  among  the  old 
scenes  made  so  familiar  by  last  August's  campaign,  with  skir 
mishers  in  the  advance  and  flankers  upon  each  side  of  the  column 
— a  cautious,  well-ordered,  determined  movement  forward.  We 
were  not  dealing  with  an  enemy  wanting  either  courage  or  skill. 
Forced  back  from  one  outpost  after  another,  those  gray-clad 
pickets  retired  deliberately,  compelled  us  to  fight  for  every  half 
mile  gained,  and  made  our  advance  a  matter  of  tedious,  wearisome 
detail.  Several  times  during  the  afternoon  our  advance  battery 
was  called  into  active  play  to  clear  the  way  for  the  main  column, 
and  more  than  one  wounded  man  passed  us,  borne  to  the  rear  by 
two  or  three  stern-looking  comrades.  Every  now  and  then  we 
could  hear  away  off  to  the  right  the  report  of  heavy  cannonading, 
and  we  knew  that  Thomas  and  McCook  were  at  work  likewise. 
Near  the  village  of  Lavergne,  midway  between  Nashville  and 
Murfreesboro',  we  came  upon  a  strong  body  of  rebels,  well  posted 
in  a  wood,  with  the  support  of  artillery,  and  evidently  disposed 
to  offer  a  determined  resistance.  It  was  already  late  in  the 
afternoon;  a  lively  exchange  of  shot  and  shell,  followed  by  a 
successful  charge  made  by  one  of  the  brigades  upon  our  right, 
and  our  day's  work  was  done.  Filing  off  through  the  fields  to 
our  left  into  a  wood  of  low,  scraggy  cedar,  we  formed  in  line  of 
battle,  stacked  arms,  and  began  our  dispositions  for  the  night. 

"Water,  water  every-where  " — every-where  but  here,  where  we 
most  needed  it.  I  was  twenty  minutes  in  finding  a  little  shallow 
pool  of  rain-water,  whence  I  filled  the  three  canteens  slung  over 
my  shoulder  and  my  quart  cup  besides,  and  started  back.  Sud 
denly,  from  the  darkness  before  me,  the  challenge — 

"Halt!  who  goes  there?"  , 

It  proved  to  be  a  picket  from  my  own  regiment,  and  I  was 
allowed  to  pass  on — not  without  devout  thankfulness  that  my 
explorations,  innocently  extended  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  advance 
of  our  picket-lines,  had  not  ended  in  a  rueful  acquaintance  with 
some  Southern  dungeon.  Fires  in  double  or  treble  rows  were 
already  flaring  and  crackling  all  up  and  down  our  lines,  and  the 
preparation  for  supper  was  soon  completed.  Our  haversacks,  of 
course,  supplied  both  materials  and  utensils  for  cooking.  Coffee 
was  speedily  made  in  our  tin-cups ;  a  slice  of  pork  transfixed  on 
a  sharpened  stick  or  ramrod,  and  held  before  the  flames,  formed 
the  body  of  the  feast,  and  with  the  addition  of  the  inevitable 


IN   THE   RANKS   AT   STONE    RIVER.  585 

"cracker,"  all  things  were  ready.  We  had  earned  the  appetite 
to  enjoy  it,  and  we  did.  Then  canie  the  night's  bivouac.  Tents 
had  been  left  back  at  Nashville,  and  knapsacks,  but  there  was  no 
scarcity  of  blankets  and  great-coats ;  so  that,  though  a  drizzling 
rain  came  up  again  about  midnight,  Davy^  and  I — blanket-fellows 
for  many  months — slept  beside  a  blazing  fire  right  royally. 

The  morning  was  dismal  enough,  with  a  raw,  chill  fog  enveloping 
every  thing,  the  trees  slowly  drip,  drip,  dripping,  and  a  light  rain  still 
falling.  A  hurried  breakfast  and  rolling  up  of  blankets,  a  care 
ful  inspection  and  wiping  out  of  our  Eufields,  and  we  were  ready 
again  for  work.  The  task,  however,  of  clearing  our  front  and 
occupying  Lavergne  fell  to  the  troops  upon  our  right ;  and  it  was 
ten  o'clock  before  our  brigade  was  again  on  the  march,  in  a  cold, 
driving  rain  that  beat  right  in  our  faces. 

Lavergue  was  a  mass  of  ruins.  Half  a  dozen  of  the  smaller 
houses  still  remained;  blackened  chimneys  standing  lone  and 
desolate  above  gray  beds  of  ashes — significant  monuments  of  the 
folly  and  crime  of  rebellion — told  the  fate  of  the  rest.  It  was  a 
pitiful  exhibition  of  the  devastations  of  war ;  the  waste  and  ruin 
that  come  with  the  mere  presence  of  an  army,  whether  of  friend 
or  foe.  Much  of  this  general  destruction  was  the  work  of  a 
reconnoitering  expedition  pushed  out  from  Nashville  several 
weeks  previous  ;  but  a  rebel  occupancy  of  nearly  four  months  had 
likewise  left  its  traces  on  every  side  in  the  spoil  of  fences, 
mutilated  shrubbery,  fields  and  gardens  overrun  and  trampled 
down,  and  the  unseemly  heaps  of  worthless  rubbish  and  miscel 
laneous  debris  that  an  abandoued  camp  always  shows.  There 
were  signs,  too,  of  our  own  work  here — dead  horses  by  the  road 
side,  buildings  with  great  holes  gaping  in  their  sides  where  our 
shells  had  come  crashing  through,  trees  splintered  and  torn,  and 
bullet  marks  in  abundance.  A  little  one-story  frame  structure 
on  the  left,  near  the  railroad  crossing,  must  have  been  an  especial 
target  for  our  sharpshooters,  for  one  side  of  it  was  completely 
riddled.  I  noticed  it  particularly,  because  here  was  the  terminus 
of  the  telegraph  line  communicating  with  head-quarters  at  Mur- 
freesboro',  and  in  at  one  of  the  open  windows  the  wires  were  still 
extending. 

Rain,  rain,  rain — would  it  never  ceaise   raining?      Plash,  plash 


586  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

through  the  mud,  occasionally  a  halt — worse  always  than  the 
inarch — now  and  then  a  shot  or  two  ahead ;  and  so,  enlivened 
only  with  disjointed  speculations  upon  the  chances  for  "a  fight  at 
Murfreesboro',"  the  day  wore  on.  Our  cavalry  were  doing  good 
service  in  clearing  the  advance  and  scouring  the  woods  upon  each 
flank,  and  several  times  during  the  day  disconsolate-looking 
prisoners  were  marched  past  us  under  guard  on  their  way  to 
Nashville.  Toward,  evening  the  sun  came  out  through  the  mists 
of  the  western  horizon,  and  beaming  upon  us  a  faint,  sickly 
smile,  sank  away  out  of  sight.  We  turned  off  to  the  right,  and 
straggling  along  up  through  a  wood  full  of  underbrush  and  fallen 
timber  for  half  a  mile  or  so,  rested  this  second  night  nine  miles 
from  Murfreesboro'.  Our  company  was  ordered  out  on  picket. 
A  dark,  chilly  night,  but  without  raiii;  and  so,  sleeping  at  the 
reserve  post  as  we  all  did,  except  for  a  single  "relief"  of  an  houi 
and  a  half,  with  a  bed  of  corn-blades  underneath  and  a  well-fed 
fire  at  our  feet,  it  was  not  difficult  to  make  out  the  night  quite 
comfortably. 

Next  day  was  Sunday.  A  beautiful,  bright,  quiet  Sabbath 
morning.  Following  two  such  days  of  amphibious  life,  how 
delightful  it  seemed !  Here  we  lay  all  day,  busy  in  the  forenoon 
in  distributing  rations  brought  up  from  the  provision  train  by  a 
special  detail,  and  in  putting  our  arms  and  equipments  into  prime 
condition  again ;  in  the  afternoon  basking  in  the  pleasant  sunshine, 
and  strolling  forward  occasionally  to  the  crest  of  the  low  sweep 
of  ridge-land,  where  a  line  of  outposts  had  been  established  when 
we  were  relieved  in  the  morning.  Rebel  pickets  were  in  plain 
sight  across  the  meadows  and  corn-fields,  the  more  daring,  indeed, 
within  good  rifle-range,  so  as  to  afford  just  enough  of  desultory 
skirmishing  to  make  the  work  mutually  piquant  and  entertaining. 
About  sundown  our  line  was  skillfully  pushed  forward,  and  Stew 
art's  Creek,  a  small  stream  half  a  mile  from  the  camping  place  of 
our  regiment,  that  night  separated  the  hostile  pickets. 

A  bright  frosty  morning  next  day,  growing  warm  and  hazy  as 
the  sun  mounted  in  the  east,  and  under  foot  muddy  enough. 
Cannonading  and  skirmishing,  of  course,  preliminary  to  the 
march,  and  by  nine  o'clock  we  were  moving  again.  Across  the 
fields,  over  fences,  through  thickets,  and  woods,  and  jungles  of 
weeds  innumerable,  only  at  intervals  catching  a  glimpse  of  the 
turnpike  off  to  our  left,  along  which  the  main  body  was  easily 


IN   THE   RANKS   AT   STONE   RIVER.  587 

advancing,  wading  creeks,  pressing  forward  in  little  enough  of 
order  at  times,  yet  the  best  that  was  possible,  seven  good  miles 
by  the  road,  and  by  our  route  doubtless  something  more.  Our 
enemy  did  his  work  well,  and  so  did  we.  Skirmishing  almost 
constantly,  gallant  advances  and  steady  falling  back — altogether 
it  was  a  day  of  lively  work  and  excitement.  Almost  too  lively, 
too  exciting,  some  of  us  began  to  think  when  about  noon  a  shell 
came  whiz-z-zing  between  two  files  in  one  of  our  rear  companies, 
and  buried  itself  in  the  dirt  a  half-dozen  yards  to  our  right, 
fortunately  without  exploding. 

The  sun  was  low  in  the  west  when  we  halted,  a  little  more 
than  two  miles  from  Murfreesboro'.  Few  of  us  suspected  the 
truth  ;  we  were  already  on  what  was  to  be  the  battle-ground  of 
Stone  River.  We  were  content  to  rest  here  for  the  night;  and 
while  the  twilight  faded  away,  our  mess  sat  around  its  bivouac 
fire  discussing  at  once  the  incidents  of  the  day,  the  probabilities 
of  the  morrow,  and  our  suppers. 

"Fall  in,  Company  B!  fall  in!" 

There  was  no  time  for  inquiry.  We  swallowed  our  coffee,  or 
threw  it  away  if  too  warm  for  that,  and  swinging  on  our  equip 
ments  formed  in  line,  ready — for  what?  Nobody  knew;  but 
presently  the  word  was  passed  down  the  line  that  we  were  to  go 
on  into  Murfreesboro'  that  night.  Noiselessly  as  possible  we 
moved  forward  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  a  piece  of  level,  grassy 
ground,  almost  cleared  of  trees,  and  waited  till  the  hours  wore 
far  toward  midnight.  At  last  permission  came  to  bivouac  where 
we  lay.  I  must  confess  that  those  were  anxious  hours  for  me. 
Our  outmost  line  of  pickets  was  not  three  hundred  yards  in 
advance,  and  twice  that  distance,  we  had  good  reason  to  believe, 
would  bring  us  full  upon  a  strong  picket  force  of  the  enemy — 
how  strong  it  was  impossible  to  determine.  There  were  rebel 
camps,  too,  certainly  within  a  mile.  We  could  see  the  light  of 
their  fires  along  what  must  have  been  a  line  of  considerable 
length,  and  stepping  off  a  few  rods  to  the  right,  could  catch  shouts 
and  halloos  occasionally,  borne  upon  the  breezes  swelling  from  the 
southward,  and  the  busy  hum  of  a  distant  multitude.  Away  from 
beyond  these  came  the  rumbling  of  cars  upon  the  railroad  track, 
the  whistle  and  the  low  wJioop-oop  of  locomotives,  and  the  incessant 
puff,  puff  of  steam  works  of  some  kind  in  Murfreesboro'.  Every 
thing  in  that  direction  gave  token  of  life  and  activity.  A  surprise 


588  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

was  not  to  be  thought  of.  And  then  the  uncertainties,  the  dim 
horrors,  the  possible  ambuscades,  the  darkness  and  the  confusion 
of  a  night  attack.  It  was  a  prospect  that  I  shrank  from.  God 
help  us,  had  we  attempted  to  occupy  Murfreesboro'  that  night; 
Big  Bethel  would  have  been  innocent  pastime  in  the  comparison. 

A  quiet  night  after  all.  The  wind  rose  a  little  by  and  by,  and 
before  midnight  it  was  raining  again.  Davy  and  I  slept  under  a 
stout,  bushy  little  oak,  whose  leaves,  all  withered  and  dead  as 
they  were,  still  clung  to  their  native  twigs,  and  even  at  this  dead 
of  winter  sheltered  us  considerably. 

Daylight  came  at  last,  stealing  feebly  through  the  clouds.  Our 
officers  roused  us.  A  raw,  disagreeable  morning,  and,  worst  of 
all,  I  had  not  had  time  to  make  coffee  when  we  were  called  into 
line,  and  moved  forward  into  the  cotton-field  between  our  bivouac 
and  the  advanced  line  of  picket  skirmishers  whom  we  were  to 
support  and  relieve.  Ever  since  the  peep  of  day  these  had  been 
popping  away  from  behind  their  rail-fence  with  a  harmless 
industry  quite  admirable,  and  being  popped  away  at  in  return, 
with  equally  innocent  results,  from  behind  the  railroad  embank 
ment  just  ahead  of  them.  By  and  by,  however,  the  sport  grew 
more  dangerous ;  our  regiment  had  two  or  three  wounded  at  it 
during  the  day,  besides  three  or  four  more  struck,  as  we  lay  there 
in  line,  by  spent  balls  that  came  buzzing  about  our  heads  and 
buried  themselves  in  the  earth  all  around  us.  We  gave  them  a 
careless,  matter-of-course  sort  of  reception  that  I  am  sure  was  quite 
creditable  to  our  reputation  as  veterans.  But  when,  late  in  the 
afternoon,  some  of  the  enemy's  guns,  transferring  their  attentions 
from  a  battery  of  the  Fourth  Regular  Artillery  which  was  attached 
to  our  brigade,  began  playing  upon  us,  what  a  hugging  of  old 
dirty,  damp  Mother  Earth  there  was !  Their  pieces  were  in 
beautifully  commanding  range  of  us,  and  it  was  fortunate  that 
their  aim  was  uniformly  too  high.  We  could  see  their  quick 
bursts  of  flame,  usually  two  at  once,  away  over  on  an  elevation 
against  our  left — fortunately,  always  in  time  to  throw  ourselves 
on  the  ground  before  the  report  and  the  whistling  of  the  shells 
overhead  reached  us,  almost  together.  Most  of  these  shells  fell 
in  the  woods  behind  us ;  but  beyond  smashing  up  a  single  wagon 
that  had  been  pushed  forward  with  either  ammunition  or  pro 
visions,  there  was,  I  believe,  no  damage  done  anywhere.  This 
state  of  affairs  did  not  last  long.  Several  of  our  batteries  had  been 


IN   THE   RANKS   AT   STONE   RIVER.  589 

firing  briskly  at  intervals  throughout  the  day,  and  three  of  them 
now  opening  again,  our  persecutors  were  glad  to  retire. 

Off  to  the  right  there  was  much  heavier  work.  It  could  not 
have  been  more  than  half  a  mile  distant,  though  hidden  com 
pletely  by  an  intervening  corner  of  the  woods,  whence  it  came 
swelling  sometimes  into  a  genuine  roar  of  battle  that  reminded  us 
vividly  of  the  second  day  at  Shiloh.  Rumors  toward  evening 
began  to  fly  thick  and  fast.  The  fighting  on  our  right  was  the 
repulse  of  successive  charges  of  the  enemy  upon  one  of  our 
batteries,  or  it  was  the  protection  of  our  workmen,  who  were 
clearing  a  road  for  our  artillery  through  the  woods  to  a  point 
commanding  Murfreesboro'  itself;  again  it  was  only  a  resolute 
advance  of  our  skirmishers  in  the  face  of  a  heavy  fire.  As  to  the 
disposition  of  our  forces  and  the  plans  of  our  commanders,  every 
body  had  heard  a  score  of  positive  statements,  not  one  of  which 
any  body  more  than  half  believed,  except  the  lone  fact,  to  which 
they  all  seemed  to  bear  certain  testimony,  that  the  corps  of 
McCook  and  Thomas  had  marched  across  from  the  direction  of 
Franklin  and  Nolensville,  and  were  taking  position  immediately 
on  our  right.  This  was  the  one  grain  of  reliable  truth  in  a 
wonderful  mass  of  exaggeration  and  pure  invention.  As  rumors 
multiplied,  speculation,  of  course,  grew  more  active.  Should  we 
have  a  battle  here  on  the  morrow,  or  would  not  the  next  morning 
find  us  in  peaceful  occupation  of  Murfreesboro',  with  Bragg  in 
headlong  retreat  southward — somewhere  ?  I  have  noticed  among 
old  troops  a  growing  disbelief  in  the  probabilities  of  actual 
conflict,  an  almost  unconscious,  instinctive  sort  of  skepticism  as  to 
the  imminence  of  battle  ;  at  least  this  was  true  of  our  army.  It 
was  hardly  to  be  wondered  at  in  troops  who  had  seen  the  laborious 
siege  of  Corinth  ended  by  a  peaceful  evacuation  ;  and  whose  sub 
sequent  experience  in  the  severe  campaign  through  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  was  little  more  than  a  constant  repetition  of  decisive 
opportunities  thrown  away  before  their  eyes  by  opposing  com 
manders.  And  so,  although  there  was  an  always  present  con 
sciousness  that  it  might  come  at  any  moment,  few  of  our  regiment, 
I  think,  really  believed  the  stern  trial  by  battle  so  near  at  hand. 
The  day  continued  to  grow  colder  hourly.  About  noon  there 
were  two  or  three  little  rain-gusts  blown  down  to  us  from  out 
some  heavy  masses  of  clearly-outlined,  wintry-looking  clouds 
rolling  up  from  the  west  like  great  billows  j  then  the  sun  looked 


590  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

out  upon  us  once  or  twice  cold  and  cheerless;  the  wind,  blowing 
bleak  from  the  north-west,  rose  almost  to  a  gale,  and  the  day  left 
us  out  in  that  unsheltered  cotton-field  dreary  and  comfortless 
enough.  There  was  need  now  for  the  blankets  and  great-coats 
which  had  hitherto  been  almost  as  much  burden  as  service,  and 
fires  were  fed  with  a  fine  disregard  of  the  price  per  hundred  of 
fence-rails.  Happy  was  he  on  this  evening  who  could  find  a  seat 
or  a  place  to  lie  down  before  the  blaze,  neither  windward  nor 
leeward  exactly,  but  just  between  the  two — where  was  enough  of 
the  fire's  generous  glow  without  any  of  its  smoke  and  sparks. 
The  night  was  passing,  and  despairing  of  our  promised  relief  by 
another  brigade,  I  gathered  a  great  heap  of  cotton-stalks  for  a 
bed,  and  wrapping  up  in  my  blankets,  with  my  feet  thrust  almost 
into  the  fire,  essayed  to  sleep.  Perhaps  I  should  have  succeeded 
in  time,  when  I  had  grown  accustomed  to  the  whistling  of  that 
cutting  night-wind  about  my  head ;  but  a  comrade  shortly  called 
to  me,  with  the  welcome  intelligence  that  our  relief  was  coming 
at  last,  and  we  were  speedily  marched  back  to  the  woods  for  the 
night.  Davy,  as  our  senior  corporal  and  ex  officio  chief  of  mess, 
quickly  seized  upon  a  good  stout  log  whereat  to  kindle  a  fire ; 
and  we  soon  had  one  burning  and  blazing  thirty  feet  long,  upon 
each  side  of  which  we  ranged,  and  sat,  each  upon  his  own  out 
spread  blanket,  enjoying  it.  Ah!  that  seems  a  pleasant  night  to 
me  now,  as  I  look  longingly,  yet  sadly,  back  to  that  scene  around 
our  bivouac  fire,  the  last  that  our  mess  ever  gathered  around. 
Two  of  our  little  party  of  thirteen,  by  another  night's  bivouac, 
were  quietly  sleeping  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking,  and  six 
more  lay  wounded  on  the  battle-field,  or,  more  fortunately,  in  the 
shelter  of  a  hospital  tent. 

The  dawn  broke  in  the  east  by  and  by,  and  we  were  stirring 
again.  It  was  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  December  31,  1862. 
There  was  little  firing  directly  in  our  front  this  morning,  but 
there  was  no  mistaking  the  ominous  signs  of  preparation  visible 
on  every  hand  ;  and  when  sixty  rounds  of  cartridges  had  been 
distributed  to  each,  and  a  special  detail  told  off  to  bear  away  the 
wounded,  we  felt  that  it  meant  battle.  It  must  have  been  about 
the  time  that  the  sun  was  rising,  though  we  could  not  see  it  for 
the  clouds  and  fog,  when  a  fierce,  irregular  cannonading  broke 
forth  away  off  to  our  right,  the  sharp,  rattling  fire  of  distant 
musketry  filling  every  short  interval.  It  was  the  attack  of  Har- 


IN   THE   BANKS   AT   STONE   RIVER.  591 

dee's  rebel  corps  upon  our  right.  Sitting  beside  our  smoldering 
fires  we  waited  and  listened,  as  those  sounds  of  conflict  gradually 
grew  nearer,  till  the  sun  broke  through  the  lingering  damp  and 
murk,  and  came  out,  bright  and  gladsome,  high  up  in  the  eastern 
sky.  At  last  we  formed ;  then  a  countermarch  in  the  entangle 
ments  of  that  cedar  thicket;  and  at  "rest"  we  waited  again. 
Presently  Rousseau's  division  came  marching  slowly  by  to  take 
position  a  little  in  advance,  just  to  our  right.  Other  troops  were 
in  motion  every-where.  We  could  hear  their  cheers  swelling  up 
from  our  left  and  far  back  to  the  rear,  as  Rosecrans'  battle-order, 
dated  that  very  morning  "Before  Murfreesboro',  Tennessee,"  was 
read  at  the  head  of  each  regiment,  penned,  doubtless,  by  the 
lamented  Garesche,  who  fell  a  few  hours  later,  one  of  that  day's 
most  illustrious  victims. 

Meantime  the  storm  of  battle  bore  steadily  toward  us.  This  is 
the  time  for  one  to  think  and  feel — before  the  battle,  when  you 
can  see  those  waves  of  death  come  rolling  on,  wild  and  wrathful, 
and,  knowing  the  while  that  you  must  soon  be  the  rock  upon 
which  they  must  beat,  have  only  to  stand  and  passively  await  the 
shock.  But  at  no  time  this  morning  was  there  much  outward 
manifestation  of  feeling.  Men  clustered  around  little  fires  quickly 
kindled — for  the  air  in  those  woods  was  still  keen  and  frosty — 
and  smoked  and  talked  discursively  of  the  sunshine  and  the  day's 
events  and  prospects;  and  I  remember  seeing  two  or  three  sitting 
apart  intently  perusing  stray  copies  of  some  late  newspaper;  but 
there  was  little  levity,  and  a  settled  expression,  as  of  one  who 
goes  to  meet  a  great  responsibility,  rested  upon  almost  every  face. 
Perhaps  a  half-hour  thus.  Then  we  marched  out  into  the  corn 
field  to  the  left,  and  somewhat  to  the  rear  of  that  cedar  thicket; 
and  there,  while  we  waited  for  a  brigade  of  regulars  that  brought 
up  the  rear  of  Rousseau's  division  to  move  forward  and  give  us 
the  clear  field  for  maneuvering,  had  time  for  a  comprehensive 
glance  at  the  shifting  panorama  around  us.  The  timber  we  had 
just  left  shut  us  in  on  the  front;  but  the  open  fields  behind  us, 
and  the  turnpike  all  along  as  far  back  as  we  could  see  it,  were 
checkered  with  dark,  moving  masses  of  blue  uniforms — here  lost 
in  the  shadows  of  a  wood,  there  emerging  again,  in  a  little  dis 
order,  perhaps,  but  at  this  distance  not  discernible — now  a  brief 
halt,  then  onward  once  more — sometimes  by  a  flank,  sometimes  in 
line — but,  in  the  main,  all  moving  forward  toward  us. 


592  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Of  all  those  thousands  there  was  need  of  every  man.  Our 
right,  surprised  and  overpowered,  had  been  forced  back  in  dis 
order;  and  Rosecrans,  compelled  to  abandon  his  matured  plans  for 
attack,  was  already  making  rapid  dispositions  for  mere  defense. 
We  did  not  know  the  half  of  the  perils  that  this  morning's  dis 
asters  had  heaped  around  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland ;  yet  there 
was  enough  about  us  to  show  unmistakably  that  it  was  no  longer 
acting  upon  the  aggressive.  Rumor  was  not  prolific,  indeed ;  but 
worse  than  that,  it  was  constantly,  consistently  unfavorable  ;  and 
the  confirmatory  evidences  of  our  own  eyes  were  startling.  All 
along  our  left  front  there  was  animated  skirmish  fighting  ;  upon 
our  side,  certainly,  not  an  advance.  Wounded  men  were  coming 
in  from  the  woods  before  us,  with  uniforms  torn  and  bloody,  and 
that  peculiarly  ghastly  expression  of  countenance  that  characterizes 
the  sufferers  on  a  battle-field  ;  and  the  crash  of  musketry  in  the 
direction  whence  they  came  was  growing  perceptibly  louder  and 
nearer  almost  every  minute. 

Yet  I  hardly  thought  that  our  turn  had  come  so  soon,  when, 
changing  front  by  a  rapid  movement  on  our  left,  "  Forward  !  " 
rang  down  the  line,  and  the  regiment  swept  up  to  the  cedar  wood, 
into  it,  and,  though  for  the  moment  much  broken  by  the  under 
growth,  fallen  logs,  and  great  protruding  boulders,  forward  still 
for  perhaps  two  hundred  yards.  The  line  in  advance  of  us,  a 
brigade  that  had  passed  us  only  a  few  minutes  before,  had  been 
crushed  and  beaten  back,  and  were  drifting  toward  us  in  utter 
confusion.  Organization  and  discipline  were  forgotten ;  they  were 
fleeing  for  their  lives.  A  sudden  halt,  a  hurried  alignment,  such 
as  a  body  of  old  troops  comes  to  make  almost  instinctively,  and 
then  I  noticed  that  our  field  officers  had  dismounted  and  were 
commanding  on  foot.  Company  B  held  the  regiment's  extreme 
left,  and  I,  in  my  place,  at  the  head  of  the  second  platoon,  had 
not  yet  caught  a  single  command,  when  crash  burst  a  volley  from 
our  right  wing,  and  was  swiftly  carried  down  the  line ;  and  almost 
before  I  had  time  to  comprehend  its  meaning,  the  rebel  bullets 
were  hissing  all  about  us.  We  were  in  action. 

I  despair  of  any  adequate  description  of  battle.  It  is'  one  of 
those  things  that  utterly  refuse  the  investiture  of  language.  One 
may  give  his  hours  unceasingly  to  the  study  of  battle  stories,  and 
at  last  have  no  knowledge  of  its  actual  realities.  I  only  know 
that  it  was  terribly,  deadly  earnest  work.  There  was  excitement, 


IN   THE   RANKS   AT   STONE   RIVER.  593 

of  course,  but  every  man  seemed  to  understand  his  duty  and  know 
exactly  how  to  do  it.  I  never  had  more  perfect  or  readier  com 
mand  of  every  faculty  in  my  life.  All  thought  of  personal  dan 
ger  was  over  with  the  firing  of  the  first  shot.  There  was  no  time 
for  fear.  Every  power  of  body  and  mind  was  bent  to  the  work  ; 
every  eye  strained  forward  on  that  line  of  dingy  gray,  with  its 
banner,  broad-barred  and  faded,  flaunting  defiantly  in  the  center; 
wavering,  reeling,  checked  completely,  as  the  full  weight  of  our 
fire  first  poured  into  their  ranks  ;  then,  as  it  seemed,  gathering 
strength  from  desperation,  and  pressing  steadily  toward  us.  Their 
formation  was  not  our  thin,  almost  unsupported  line ;  regiment 
followed  regiment  in  deep,  massive  columns  of  attack,  that  forced 
their  way  forward  with  a  momentum  all  but  irresistible. 

I  fired  but  three  times  altogether.  Oh,  the  horrible  tempest  of 
fire  in  those  few  moments!  Then  the  incessant  din  of  musketry, 
the  ringings  in  one's  ears,  the  smell  and  the  smoke  of  gunpowder, 
the  defiant  cheers,  the  intensity  of  intellection,  the  desperation 
even  at  last!  I  had  just  discharged  my  second  shot,  this  time  upon 
one  knee,  taking  low  and  deliberate  aim,  when  I  heard  a  call  from 
behind.  It  was  our  little  second  lieutenant,  soldier  true  and  tried, 
who,  mounted  upon  a  boulder  and  bending  slightly  forward,  was 
looking  over  our  heads  toward  the  rebel  line,  now  not  three  hun 
dred  yards  distant. 

"Fire,  boys,  fire !     They  are  advancing!" 

To  my  dying  day  I  shall  never  forget  the  expression  of  that 
face,  so  fearful  in  its  intensity,  and  the  concentration  of  every 
emotion  in  the  one  dreadful  idea  of  possible  defeat.  I  reloaded 
and  fired  again.  Just  then  I  caught  a  glimpse  through  the  trees 
of  another  line  of  dusky  uniforms  advancing  toward  our  left,  and, 
like  lightning,  it  flashed  upon  me  that  in  five  minutes  more,  if 
Btill  unsupported,  we  should  be  outflanked.  At  that  moment  a 
whistling  volley  of  bullets  came  over  from  that  new  enemy,  and 
for  me  the  battle  was  over. 

I  remember  no  acute  sensation  of  pain,  not  even  any  distinct 
shock,  only  an  instantaneous  consciousness  of  having  been  struck; 
then  my  breath  came  hard  and  labored,  with  a  croup-like  sound, 
and  with  a  dull,  aching  feeling  in  my  right  shoulder,  my  arm  fell 
powerless  at  my  side,  and  the  Enfield  dropped  from  my  grasp. 
I  threw  my  left  hand  up  to  my  throat,  and  withdrew  it  covered 
with  the  warm,  bright-red  blood.  The  end  had  come  at  last  I 
38 


594  THE   STOEY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

But,  thank  God,  it  was  death  in  battle.  Only  let  me  get  back  out 
of  that  deathly  storm  and  breathe  away  the  few  minutes  that  were 
left  of  life  in  some  place  of  comparative  rest  and  security.  It  all 
rushed  through  my  mind  in  an  instant.  I  turned  and  staggered 
away  to  the  rear ;  and,  as  I  did  so,  a  comrade  brushed  by  me,  shot 
through  the  hand,  who  a  moment  before  was  firing  away  close  at 
my  side.  I  saw  feeble  reinforcements  moving  up,  and  I  recollect 
a  thrill  of  joy  even  then,  as  I  thought  that  the  tide  of  battle  might 
yet  be  turned,  and  those  rebel  masses  beaten  back. 

But  my  work  was  done.  I  was  growing  faint  and  weak,  although 
not  yet  half-way  out  of  range  of  fire.  A  narrow  space  between 
two  massive  boulders,  over  which  rested  lengthwise  the  trunk  of 
a  fallen  tree,  offered  refuge  and  hope  of  safety  from  further  dan 
ger.  I  crawled  into  it  and  lay  down  to  die.  I  counted  the  min 
utes  before  I  must  bleed  to  death.  I  had  no  more  hope  of  seeing 
the  new  year  on  the  morrow  than  I  now  have  of  outliving  the  next 
century.  Thank  God,  death  did  not  seem  so  dreadful,  now  that 
it  was  come!  And  then  the  sacrifice  was  not  all  in  vain,  falling 
thus  in  God's  own  holy  cause  of  freedom.  But  home  and  friends  ! 
Oh,  the  rush  of  thought  then  ! 

Let  the  vail  be  drawn  here.  The  temple  of  memory  has  its 
holy  place,  into  which  only  one's  own  soul  may,  once  in  a  great 
season,  solemnly  enter. 

The  battle  still  raged.  Only  a  little  while  longer.  Then  the 
firing  slackened  and  ceased,  and  I  knew  that  one  side  must  have 
given  back  in  rapid  retreat.  But  which?  I  was  lying  off  to  the 
left  of  our  direction  of  advance,  so  that  I  had  seen' nothing  except 
only  once  or  twice  a  wounded  man  going  to  the  rear,  and  could 
only  take  counsel  of  Hope.  Then  close  upon  my  right,  though  I 
still  could  not  see  them,  the  sound  of  men  marching,  with  shouts 
and  cheers,  and  the  confused  clamor  of  a  multitude  of  voices  all 
talking  at  once.  It  was  the  rebel  host  rejoicing  over  victory. 
What  followed  I  could  only  conjecture.  Since  then  I  have  heard 
the  whole  story.  Our  regiment  had  held  them  until  overpowered 
and  well-nigh  surrounded,  giving,  meantime,  many  precious  min 
utes  to  our  batteries  to  take  position;  and  when  presently  they 
came,  eager  and  confident,  sweeping  on  out  of  the  woods,  across 
,the  corn  and  cotton-fields,  upon  our  shattered  lines,  they  met  a 
storm  of  missiles — shot  and  shell,  grape  and  canister,  and  swarms 


IN   THE   RANKS   AT   STONE   RIVER.  505 

of  rifle-balls — that  speedily  sent  them  in  fragmentary  masses  back 
through  the  woods  whence  they  came. 

And  so  I  lay  there,  with  my  head  pillowed  on  my  blanket,  while 
the  battle  swelled  again  around  and  over  me — bullets  glancing  from 
the  sides  of  the  stones  that  sheltered  me,  or  sinking  into  the  log 
above  me,  and  shot  and  shell  crashing  through  the  tree-tops  and 
falling  all  about  me.  Two  shells,  I  remember,  struck  scarcely  ten 
feet  from  me,  and  in  their  explosion  covered  me  with  dirt  and 
splinters;  but  that  was  all.  Still  I  lived  on.  I  smile  now  as  I 
think  of  it,  how  I  kept  raising  my  left  hand  to  see  if  the  finger 
nails  were  growing  white  and  purple,  as  they  do  when  one  bleeds 
to  death,  and  wondered  to  find  them  still  warm  and  ruddy.  Hem 
orrhage  must  have  ceased  almost,  and  the  instincts  of  existence 
said,  "Live!"  Then  came  the  agony  of  waiting  for  remqval  from 
the  field.  How  I  longed  and  looked  for  some  familiar  face,  as  our 
men  twice  charged  up  into  that  wood,  directly  over  me  ;  but  they 
belonged  to  another  division,  and  had  other  work  to  do  than  bear 
ing  off  the  wounded.  But  in  those  intermissions  of  battle  when, 
for  several  minutes  together,  there  was  scarcely  a  shot  from  either 
side,  why  was  there  no  help  given  us  ?  Where  was  the  ambulance 
detail  of  my  own  regiment,  that  was  made  only  this  morning? 
Perhaps  assistance  was  near,  but  I,  lying  off  there  alone  and  thus 
hidden  away,  might  be  overlooked.  In  my  blouse  pocket  was  a 
new  knit  sleeping-cap,  sole  luxury  of  my  camp  life,  sent  a  month 
before  from  home.  I  drew  it  out,  not  without  some  difficulty,  and, 
elevating  it  on  a  stick,  began  waving  it.  But  there  was  no  one 
to  heed  the  signal,  and  by  and  by  I  gave  it  up  in  despair. 

I  had  lain  down  upon  my  outspread  rubber  blanket,  with  my 
overcoat  on,  in  the  same  dress  and  equipment  with  which  we  had 
gone  into  action  ;  but  the  afternoon  sun  was  losing  its  power,  and 
I  began  to  feel  cold  and  miserable.  Presently  there  was  another 
lull  at  our  part  of  the  line,  as  the  battle  surged  away  off  along 
the  left,  and  I  resolved  to  make  one  desperate  effort  to  reach  the 
rear.  Twice  I  fell  back,  unable  to  rise:  but  the  third  attempt  was 
successful.  To  my  astonishment  I  found  myself  able  to  walk  with 
out  much  difficulty;  but  I  had  no  strength  to  lavish  unnecessarily, 
and  reluctantly  leaving  my  blanket,  my  haversack,  and  canteen, 
as  prizes  for  some  fortunate  rebel,  I  wandered  back  toward  our 
lines.  Across  those  corn  and  cotton-fields  again,  now  strewn  with 


596  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

the  dead  and  wounded — our  own  blue  and  the  rebel  gray  mingled 
together — heedless  alike  of  the  piteous  calls  and  prayers  from  every 
Bide  for  the  assistance  I  could  not  give,  and  of  the  perils  of  shot 
and  shell  whistling  past  me,  and  at  last  I  reached  the  turnpike, 
faint  and  exhausted.  A  little  further  down  I  came  to  a  little,  low 
log- cabin,  with  its  strip  of  red  flannel  fluttering  before  it  to  indi 
cate  its  present  use,  its  two  small  rooms  crowded  hours  before 
with  the  wounded  and  dying,  and  scores  more  sitting  or  lying 
around  smoking  fires  on  the  outside.  Ambulances  were  coming 
and  going,  freighted  with  their  precious  burden  of  maimed  and 
helpless  humanity;  and  still  the  wounded  were  accumulating  con 
stantly. 

I  remember  the  almost  hopeless  weariness  with  which  I  sat 
down  before  the  fire  to  wait  my  turn  for  removal,  when  a  familiar 
voice  called  me.  It  was  one  of  my  own  company,  who  had  escaped 
this  morning's  ordeal  of  fire  by  a  fortunate  detail  a  few  weeks 
before  on  the  "  Pioneer  Corps,"  and  whose  kindness  to  me  in  this 
hour  I  shall  never  forget.  He  took  off  my  cartridge-box,  of  which 
I  had  in  vain  tried  to  unburden  myself,  cleared  a  place  by  the  fire 
for  me,  rolled  up  a  barrel  for  me  to  rest  against,  and  as  soon  as 
possible  procured  me  a  seat  in  an  ambulance ;  then,  after  such 
feeble  thanks  as  I  had  strength  to  give  him,  we  were  driven  off. 
The  road  was  blockaded  with  troops  and  confused  masses  of  artil 
lery,  ammunition  trains,  and  ambulances  ;  while  stragglers,  singly 
or  in  fragmentary  squads,  skulked  about  every-where.  The  after 
noon  was  waning  fast,  when  we  finally  reached  the  field  hospital 
of  our  division,  which  had  been  established  the  day  before  about 
five  miles  back  from.  Murfreesboro'.  It  was  a  motley  collection 
of  tents — hospital,  Sibley,  wall,  bell,  flies,  any  thing,  indeed,  that 
could  be  found  and  made  to  afford  shelter — pitched  in  a  promis- 
cous  heap  in  a  large,  open  meadow,  sloping  up  from  the  turnpike 
off  to  the  left.  No  one  could  direct  us  to  the  hospital  of  the  Sixth 
Ohio,  and  I  was  little  able  to  go  farther ;  so  a  place  was  presently 
made  for  me  among  our  comrades  of  the  Ninetieth  Ohio,  where 
I  found  needful  care  and  rest  at  last.  In  kind,  skillful,  tenderest 
hands,  reader,  and  though  they  were  strangers  all,  I  felt  that  I  was 
among  friends  at  once. 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTER   STONE   RIVER.  597 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTER    STONE    RIVER. 

THERE  was  scarcely  more  than  an  hour  of  sunshine  left  on  that 
fearful  first  day  at  Stone  River,  when  the  driver  assisted  me 
out  of  the  ambulance  and  gave  me  in  charge  of  the  attendants  at 
the  field  hospital  of  the  Ninetieth  Ohio.  The  large,  square-made 
hospital  tent  was  already  becoming  crowded,  some  of  its  inmates 
evidently  new-comers  like  myself.  At  the  further  end  one  of  the 
surgeons  was  busily  at  work  bandaging  a  ghastly  wound  in  the 
arm  of  a  poor  wretch,  the  sleeve  of  whose  blouse,  cut  away  at  the 
shoulder  and  all  matted  and  stiif  with  gore,  was  lying  on  the  ground 
beside  him.  One  of  the  attendants,  with  both  sleeves  rolled  up 
to  the  elbows,  had  just  set  down  a  basin  of  darkly-colored  water 
and  was  assisting  the  surgeon  in  securing  the  bandage.  Another 
of  the  wounded  sat  on  the  ground  a  little  behind  the  group,  wait 
ing  with  mute  patience  for  his  turn  to  come  next.  Close  by,  and 
down  upon  one  knee,  was  the  chaplain,*  with  a  memorandum-book 
and  pencil,  taking  the  sufferer's  names,  with  the  commands  to  which 
they  respectively  belonged,  and  the  home  address  of  the  friends  of 
each.  Not  in  vain,  I  thought,  was  even  this  last  care,  for  it  could 
scarcely  be  very  long  before  sad  occasion  to  improve  it  would  be 
given  by  some  of  our  number. 

The  surgeonf  was  soon  ready  for  me,  and  proceeded  to  examine 
the  wound  with  evident  care  and  interest.  "A  very  narrow  escape, 
young  man,"  he  said,  at  length.  "  Hardly  one  in  a  hundred  would 
ever  have  lived  to  leave  the  field  with  such  a  wound  as  that.  Do 
you  see,  chaplain?  Right  through  the  base  of  the  neck  and  be 
hind  the  right  clavicle,  which  it  has  evidently  struck  and  fractured 
just  here,  and  then  glancing  upward  seems  to  have  shattered  the 
acromius.  How  the  trachea  escaped  without  serious  injury  I  can 

*  Rev.  George  L.  Kalb.  f  Assist.  Surg.  C.  P.  O'Hanlon. 


598  THE   STORY    OF   A    REGIMENT. 

not  see ;  and  it  is  a  perfect  marvel  that  the  subclavian  artery  here 
was  not  severed,  and  that,  you  know,  away  from  surgical  appliances, 
must  have  been  certain  death.  Young  man*  you  are  singularly 
fortunate." 

Doubtless  he  spoke  the  truth.  But  who  that  is  at  all  conver 
sant  with  army  surgery  does  not  know  the  manifold  perils — the 
horrors  of  secondary  hemorrhage,  the  fearful  exhaustion  produced 
by  suppuration,  and  the  many  other  possibilities  quite  as  imminent 
and  dangerous — which  lurk  in  the  future  of  a  gunshot  wound? 

"A  bad  wound,  doctor,  I  know;  but  if  I  do  well,  very  well,  is  it 
possible  for  me  to  get  through?" 

I  watched  closely  the  expression  of  his  features,  while  he  seemed 
to  be  considering  a  moment  for  a  reply. 

"If  you  were  at  home" — he  said  it  gravely  and  with  a  sort  of 
measured  emphasis — "  if  you  were  at  home,  I  should  not  hesitate 
to  say,  yes ;  but  here  in  an  army  hospital,  you  know,  the  case  is 
different.  It  is  more  than  I  should  like  to  promise." 

Little  enough,  surely,  to  hope  for  from  these  words,  and  yet  my 
heart  thanked  him  as  truly  as  did  my  tongue  for  their  manly  can 
dor.  The  wound  was  soon  dressed,  though  skillfully  and  carefully  ; 
then  a  few  fresh  bundles  of  corn- blades  were  brought  in,  the  spoil 
of  a  barn  at  no  great  distance;  and  on  the  bed  that  they  made 
when  shook  up  in  one  corner  I  sat  down  with  a  weary  contented- 
ness  to  find  only  quiet  and  rest.  A  little  later  one  or  two  more 
of  the  morning's  wounded  came  in  and  received  the  ready  care  of 
the  surgeon,  who  seemed  still  unwearied,  although  many  hours  of 
continuous  labor  had  afforded  him  no  respite,  even  so  much  as  to 
take  a  mouthful  of  food. 

Sunshine  disappeared  erelong,  and  looking  blankly  out  through 
the  half-open  door,  toward  the  south-west,  I  could  see  the  crimson 
flush  of  sunset  fading  into  the  dim  glimmer  of  twilight,  and  then 
darkness  came  and  covered  away  all.  There  had  been  little  sus 
tained  firing  off  on  the  battle-field  for  an  hour  or  more  ;  only  at 
quick  intervals  a  few  rapid  rounds  of  artillery,  expressive  appa 
rently  of  exasperation  and  defiance  rather  than  any  earnest  work, 
dying  away  into  the  irregular,  dropping  fire  of  distant  musketry. 
It  was  quite  dark,  however,  before  the  sounds  of  battle  ceased  en 
tirely,  and  even  through  the  night  there  continued  to  come  the 
clear,  startling  ring  of  quick-repeated  rifle-shots,  assuring  that 
worn  and  anxious  army  of  ours  of  the  vigilance  of  its  outposts, 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTER   STOXE    RIVER.  599 

and  confirming  the  enemy's  unwilling  conviction  that,  though  it 
had  been  taken  at  fearful  disadvantage,  forced  back  in  part  for 
miles,  and  scattered  apparently  in  fragmentary  confusion,  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  was  yet  unbroken  in  organization,  and  in  spirit 
defiant  as  ever. 

About  dusk  our  suppers  were  brought  in — a  cup  of  coffee  and  a 
biscuit,  and  the  wearied  attendants  beginning  soon  after  to  seek 
their  blankets  and  lie  down  beside  the  fire  just  without  the  tent 
door,  only  the  two  whose  watch  was  in  the  early  half  of  the  night 
remained  with  us.  It  was  unusually  warm  for  the  season,  as  indeed 
had  been  the  weather  for  several  days  past ;  but  the  glow  of  heat 
that  the  little  stove  at  my  feet  gave  out  was  quite  grateful,  though 
requiring  the  removal  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  tent  of  the  flick 
ering  candle  which,  upheld  in  the  socket  of  a  bayonet  stuck  into 
the  ground,  threw  a  dim,  yellow  light  over  all. 

A  quieter  night  than  I  had  anticipated;  yet  I  could  not  sleep. 
Home,  with  all  its  memories  and  associations,  the  cause  that  I  had 
so  loved,  and  in  my  humble  way  had  served  even  unto  this  last ; 
the  Past,  the  trembling  Present,  the  unknown  To  BE  that  seemed 
so  near  !  How  could  the  body  sleep,  even  had  it  been  at  ease, 
when  in  the  soul  echoed  the  march  of  thoughts  so  real  and  solemn  ? 
So  the  night  wore  on — in  thinking,  waiting,  wondering,  in  weari 
ness  and  pain.  The  old  year  was  passing  away.  We  were  dying 
together.  It  seemed  hard  so  to  die — by  suffocation,  I  thought, 
from  internal  hemorrhage  that  was  slowly  filling  my  lungs  with 
blood.  Respiration  was  almost  impossible,  except  in  a  sitting  pos 
ture,  and  propped  nearly  upright  though  I  was,  my  breath  came 
only  with  thick,  irregular  gasps.  How  the  time  in  those  hours  of 
suffering  seemed  to  lengthen  and  linger  on  !  But  midnight  came 
at  length,  and  then  the  new  year.  Toward  morning  there  was  a 
sensible  relief  of  that  horrible  feeling  of  suffocation,  and  I  dropped 
into  a  brief  and  broken  slumber. 

When  I  awoke  day  was  breaking  chill  and  gloomily.  It  was 
Thursday  morning,  January  1,  18G3.  How  were  they  spending 
"Happy  New-Year's  " — our  friends  up  (here  in  the  North?  Hap 
pily  ignorant,  of  course,  of  the  fateful  strife  that  should  yet  echo 
through  how  many  desolated  homes,  and  thrill  with  what  mingling 
of  lofty  pride  and  anguish  unutterable  how  many  stricken  hearts ! 

There  was  an  angry  exchange  of  picket-shots  when  it  grew 
fairly  light,  and  at  several  different  periods  throughout  the  day 


600  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

enough  of  the  sounds  of  battle  were  borne  from  over  the  open 
fields  and  meadows  to  the  southward  to  prove  the  strife  still  un 
decided  ;  but  it  was  plain  that  no  general  engagement  was  in 
progress.  Once  or  twice,  however,  the  enemy  made  demonstra 
tions  upon  the  right  of  our  line,  menacing  communication  with 
Nashville,  that  seemed  to  threaten  a  transfer  of  the  battle  directly 
to  the  vicinity  of  our  hospital;  and  when  at  one  time  shells  began 
to  drop,  crashing  into  the  meadow  only  a  little  beyond  where  our 
tents  were  pitched,  the  possibilities  suggested  were  by  no  means 
agreeable.  The  prospect  of  capture,  at  least,  seemed  far  from  re 
mote,  and  it  tended  but  little  to  occasion  a  feeling  of  security  to 
know  that  on  the  day  previous  the  enemy  had  made  such  a  dash, 
and,  after  holding  all  the  hospitals  in  this  part  of  the  field  for 
half  an  hour  or  more,  were  only  repelled  by  the  determined  hero 
ism  of  a  body  of  our  cavalry,  who  reached  the  ground  just  in  time 
to  prevent  more  serious  disasters.  Happily  our  fears  were  not 
destined  to  be  realized;  and  those  contending  armies  were  in  the 
same  old  sullen  attitude  of  defiance  when  night  came  on — dark, 
raining,  wretched.  Lying  there  in  that  hospital  tent,  snugly 
blanketed,  and  in  less  of  pain  than  for  many  hours,  I  thought 
with  pity  of  the  comrades  out  in  that  bleak  storm  without  fire  or 
shelter — many  of  them,  indeed,  destitute  of  even  blankets  and 
food.  And  the  wounded  that  were  still  on  the  field  ! 

For  me,  the  two  events  of  Friday  morning  were  the  extraction 
of  the  bullet  from  my  shoulder  and  writing  home — this  latter  the 
greater  work  of  pain  and  difficulty.  On  the  field  the  day  con 
tinued  wet  and  raw  for  several  hours,  giving  little  promise  of  any 
decisive  action  that  should  relieve  the  gloom  and  suspense  that 
rested  on  the  hearts  of  all.  The  surgeon*  coming  into  the 
tent  soon  after  dinner,  we  were  told  that  heavy  fighting  was  al 
most  certain  to  occur  before  night-fall ;  but  for  hours  the  quiet  of 
the  field  continued  undisturbed,  except  by  the  desultory  skirmish 
ing  usual  to  hostile  picket-lines  in  such  proximity.  Late  in  the 
day,  however,  a  brisk  cannonade  sprang  up,  distinct,  uniform,  sus 
tained,  but  becoming  by  degrees  more  rapid  and  irregular.  Pres 
ently  a  wild,  prolonged,  tumultuous  shout,  which,  as  I  sat  there 
listening  breathlessly,  seemed  to  be  drawing  momentarily  nearer, 
until  all  at  once  it  was  overwhelmed,  lost  completely,  in  the  out 
burst  of  one  grand,  continuous  roll  of  artillery  thunder,  laboring 
*Dr.  Richard  N.  Tipton,  of  Tarlton,  Pickaway  Couuty,  Ohio. 


IN    HOSPITAL   AFTER   STONE   RIVER.  601 

between  the  earth  and  sky  for  expanse  sufficient  to  contain  its 
mighty  volume.  Even  at  such  distance  the  roar  of  battle  came 
swelling  toward  us,  burdened  with  momentous  significance  of  the 
salvation  or  the  destruction  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  with 
an  awful  sublimity  beyond  all  description.  Few  who  were  present 
on  that  Friday  evening  at  Stone  River  but  will  recall  the  scenes 
and  sounds  of  this  hour  as  the  grandest  and  most  terrific  example 
of  the  use  of  field  artillery  that  their  experience  has  ever  afforded. 
It  was  impossible  for  such  a  cannonade  to  be  long  maintained,  but 
when  it  began  to  subside  somewhat  the  crash  of  small  arms  filled 
every  intermission.  Suddenly  the  battle  slackened,  while  one  could 
count  the  reports  of  the  artillery  shots,  but  this  was  only  for  a  few 
moments.  Then  a  loud,  fierce  yell  of  triumph — great  swelling 
waves  of  sound  surging  all  up  and  down  a  lengthened  line — as  if 
in  that  one  outburst  of  passion,  hopes  and  fears,  voiceless  hith 
erto,  and  the  bitter  resolves  begotten  of  long  suspense,  had  all 
found  full  expression  at  last.  The  hospital  attendants  were  out 
on  the  rising  slope  just  before  the  tent  door,  and  from  their  ex 
clamations  I  gathered  that  the  nearer  portions  of  the  battle-field 
were  in  distinct  view,  and  through  its  smoke  and  apparent  confu 
sion  they  could  catch  glimpses  of  the  shifting,  struggling  masses 
that  were  there  contending. 

"  They  are  running!     See,  see!     HURRAH  !  " 

The  cheer  that  went  up  was  as  much,  it  seemed,  a  spontaneous 
gush  of  enthusiasm  as  a  demonstration  of  exultant  delight,  but  it 
thrilled  my  very  soul.  The  rebel  hosts  had  been  beaten,  swept 
away,  ground,  as  it  were,  into  atoms,  and  the  broken  remnants, 
before  a  grand,  sweeping  line  of  charging  bayonets,  were  flying, 
almost  without  resistance,  across  the  fields  and  far  beyond  their 
own  position  of  an  hour  previous.  Doubtless,  they  thought,  as 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  then  thinking,  of  the  Wednes 
day  just  past,  and  well  might  feel  that  the  avenger  of  blood  was 
upon  them. 

The  night  was  already  beginning  to  fall,  and  half  an  hour  later 
all  was  quiet  and  darkness  again.  A  few  of  the  wounded  came  in 
after  supper ;  the  rest  were  lying  uncared  for  out  in  the  mire 
where  they  had  fallen,  under  the  cold  rain  that  was  now  descend 
ing.  About  ten  o'clock  heavy  picket  firing  ran  hurriedly  along  a 
portion  of  our  line,  and  continued  to  quicken  for  several  minutes. 
Was  it  a  night  attack,  with  all  its  horrors  augmented  by  the  in- 


602  THE    STORY   OF   A    REGIMENT. 

tense  darkness  and  the  storm  ?  That,  on  such  a  night  would  have 
been  the  last  resource  of  desperation.  The  firing  shortly  died  away, 
however,  and  nothing  but  the  rumble  of  long  trains  of  wagons, 
returning  to  Nashville  for  supplies,  and  the  light  plash  of  the 
rain  on  the  canvas  overhead,  broke  the  stillness  that  had  settled 
on  all  within  our  hospital  tent. 

Saturday  morning  brought  us  the  glorious  particulars  of  the 
preceding  evening's  work  ;  but  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon  before 
I  found  any  one  who  could  relieve  my  anxiety  to  know  how  had 
fared  in  the  strife  the  gallant  remnant  spared  from  Wednesday's 
carnage,  to  rally  under  the  blue  banner  of  the  "Guthries" — the 
token  of  the  Queen  City's  loving  pride  in  the  fame  of  one  of  its 
own  favorite  regiments. 

"Only  one  was  hurt  in  Company  B,"  he  said,  "and  he  was  killed. 
It  was  your  little  corporal." 

It  was  too  true — shot  through  the  left  side;  only  the  quick  cry 
to  a  comrade,  "Oh,  John!"  and  all  was  over.  It  was  fitting  that 
on  the  field  he  had  given  his  life  to  win  he  should  find  his  last 
long  resting-place.  Sincerer  mourners  never  followed  the  plumed 
hearse  in  all  the  array  of  gorgeous  woe  than  the  comrades  who,  in 
sorrowful,  sacred  silence,  lowered  into  a  soldier's  grave  all  that  re 
mained  of  little  Davy.  True  friend  and  comrade  tried,  he  sleeps 
there  still. 

Two  others  of  our  mess  had  fallen  on  Wednesday  morning,  and 
six  more  of  that  little  band  of  thirteen  were  lying,  wounded  and 
suffering,  scattered  among  the  hospitals  that  lined  for  a  weary  dis 
tance  the  road-side  to  the  rear.  The  colonel,  with  a  painful  flesh- 
wound  since  the  first  day's  fight,  was  yet  bravely  leading  what 
remained  of  the  regiment ;  but  our  captain,  they  said,  was  in  Nash 
ville,  mortally  wounded.  He  lived  only  a  few  days.  The  circum 
stances  of  his  death  greatly  affected  me  when  I  heard  them  nar 
rated,  mo-nths  afterward,  by  the  ward-master  ;  for  I  had  been  his 
company  clerk,  and  knew  how  true  a  soul  his  was.  "  Much  easier," 
he  told  the  surgeon,  who  was  making  his  morning  rounds ;  but 
when  the  attendants  came  to  dress  the  wound,  as  usual,  the  cause 
was  only  too  apparent — mortification  had  begun.  A  little  while 
he  lay  quiet,  as  if  sinking  drowsily  to  sleep ;  then  turning  upon 
his  side  with  considerable  exertion,  he  spoke  low  but  distinctly: 

"  Grood-by,  Hettie  !     I  am  going." 

It  was  the  last  effort :  he  was  dead. 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTEE   STONE   EIVER.  G03 

Wynne*  came  in  about  dusk,  wet  and  dripping.  The  words  of 
greeting  were  few  and  quiet  enough  ;  but  oh,  how  much  of  satisfied 
longing,  and  waiting,  and  hoping  there  was  in  his  presence  alone! 
Roused  at  midnight  by  the  ominous  message,  "Wounded  severely," 
he  had  made  a  few  hurried  arrangements,  stuffed  a  haversack  with 
such  simple  articles  as  a  thoughtful  heart  might  suggest  would  be 
useful,  and  had  ridden  out  from  Nashville,  through  mud,  and  rain, 
and  perils  not  a  few  from  rebel  guerrillas,  to  come  to  me  and  be 
gin  those  unwearied  ministrations  through  which,  thank  God!  I 
am  alive  to-night. 

The  night  echoed  two  or  three  little  spiteful  gusts  of  musketry, 
but  the  Sabbath  morning  broke  bright,  serene,  lovely,  with  not  a 
shot  to  disturb  its  sacred  quiet.  It  was  yet  early  in  the  forenoon 
when  the  glad  news  came,  "  Murfreesboro'  is  evacuated  and  in  our 
possession!"  Victory,  victory  at  last!  Wrung,  as  it  were,  from 
the  very  agony  of  desperation,  where  was  it  ever  more  nobly  won 
than  on  the  red  and  stubborn  field  of  Stone  River  ? 

The  first  death  in  our  hospital  occurred  on  the  morning  follow 
ing.  He  was  a  tall,  stalwart  man,  stricken  down  in  the  strength 
of  manhood,  who,  after  days  and  nights  of  tossing  agony,  passed 
away  at  last  in  a  kind  of  quiet  stupor.  They  carried  him  out  in  a 
few  minutes,  wrapped  in  the  blanket  that  covered  him  when  he 
died ;  and  so,  they  said,  he  was  buried  by  the  detail  whose  duty  this 
office  was.  There  were  several  other  deaths  within  the  next  fort 
night;  one  of  them  more  shocking,  I  thought,  than  any  scene  that 
battle  itself  had  ever  presented  me.  It  was  a  boy  from  an  Indiana 
regimentf  belonging  to  my  own  division,  whose  fair  and  open  coun 
tenance  seemed  scarcely  affected  by  the  exposure  of  sixteen  months 
in  the  field.  In  years  he  was  still  young,  for  he  told  us  one  day  that 
he  was  not  yet  quite  eighteen.  His  wound  was  in  the  neck,  the  bul 
let  passing  quite  through,  and  out  behind  at  the  right  shoulder,  and 
so  injuring  the  larynx  that  it  was  only  with  difficulty  he  could  speak, 
even  in  a  whisper.  Evidently  he  was  a  great  sufferer,  yet  so  patient, 
so  uncomplaining  to  the  last.  Nearly  two  weeks  had  passed  since 
that  memorable  Wednesday,  when  one  morning  he  told  the  nurse, 
whom  he  had  beckoned  to  his  side,  that  his  wound  was  growing  very 
painful,  and  if  secondary  hemorrhage  occurred,  as  was  almost  cer 
tain,  he  knew  that  he  could  not  live.  He  spoke  of  it  with  much 

*The  writer's  brother.  t  Isaac  English,  of  the  Ninth  Indiana. 


604  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

composure,  as  if  he  felt  that  death  was  inevitable,  and  was  resolved 
with  that  spirit  to  meet  it.  As  I  sat,  supported  by  ponderous  rolls 
of  blankets  that  the  thoughtful  care  of  one  of  the  attendants  had 
procured  for  me,  and  awaiting  wearily  the  customary  morning 
rounds  of  the  nurses  to  whom  belonged  exclusively  the  duty  of 
dressing  wounds,  I  could  see  every  motion  of  the  poor  fellow  on 
his  cot  directly  opposite.  Presently  I  heard  a  peculiar  strangling 
cough,  and  looking  toward  him  I  saw  the  nurse  bending  over  him 
and  raising  him  into  a  sitting  posture,  while  the  blood  gushed  in 
streams  from  his  mouth,  his  nostrils,  and  the  external  wound  in 
his  throat.  The  surgeon  was  called  instantly;  but  his  endeavors, 
I  saw,  were  hopeless.  The  great  carotid  artery  had  sloughed  away, 
and  in  less  than  five  minutes  the  nurse  was  supporting  only  a  droop 
ing  corpse.  It  was  a  sickening  sight,  a  horrible  death.  Wounded 
in  much  the  same  spot,  how  soon  might  not  the  end  of  earth  come 
so  to  me?  I  buried  my  head  in  my  blankets,  and  strove  to  shut 
the  scene  away  from  my  vision ;  but  the  picture  haunted  me,  and  for 
days  and  weeks  afterward  it  would  come  to  me  at  times,  all  ghastly 
and  crimson,  with  a  vividness  and  power  that  made  me  shudder. 

The  commander  of  our  corps  visited  us  one  day,  in  the  course 
of  a  tour  through  the  hospitals,  and  I  remember  well  the  few 
earnest,  manly  words  that  he  addressed  us,  full  of  encouragement 
and  appreciation.  The  subdued,  almost  tender,  expression  of  that 
grave  face  his  command  had  often  remarked ;  but  it  never  before 
impressed  me  as  so  finely,  so  nobly  in  accord  with  place  and  circum 
stances  as  now.  It  was  but  a  passing  moment,  of  course,  but  I 
am  sure  there  was  hardly  one  pleasanter  episode  in  all  our  tedious 
life  at  that  field  hospital  than  General  Crittenden's  hurried  call. 

So  the  days  came  and  went.  The  weather  was  wet  and  raw,  or 
cold  and  wintry,  almost  constantly.  The  battle  grew  to  be  an  old 
story.  From  the  reports  that  reached  us  we  learned  that  the  army 
had  settled  quietly  again  into  the  old  monotony  and  routine  of 
camp-life,  seldom  broken  but  by  the  occasional  duty  of  guarding 
immense  wagon-trains  to  and  from  Nashville,  from  which,  of  ne 
cessity,  all  supplies  were  thus  laboriously  transported,  until  the  rail 
road  could  be  re-opened.  After  the  second  week  there  were  fewer 
deaths  in  the  field  hospitals.  There  were  fewer  inmates,  too,  from 
other  causes,  for  most  of  the  wounded  could  bear  removal,  and 
were  being  forwarded  to  Nashville  as  rapidly  as  possible.  From 
thence,  they  told  us,  we  were  all  to  be  sent  directly  home.  Home ! 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTER   STONE   RIVER.  605 

In  that  one  little  word  what  worlds  of  happiness  and  sweet  fruition 
of  hope  and  long  desire  were  stored  away,  awaiting  our  enjoyment! 
Hardly  the  returned  exile,  retracing  the  steps  and  the  scenes  of 
long,  long  ago,  knows  to  the  full  all  that  the  grand  old  Saxon 
monosyllable  can  mean  to  a  sufferer  in  an  army  hospital ;  and  al 
though  there  may  be  delight  in  the  burning  heart-thrill  of  the 
traveler,  sated  with  sight-seeing  and  novelty, 

"As  home  his  footsteps  he  hath  turned 
From  wandering  on  a  foreign  strand," 

it  is  faint  and  pitiful,  I  have  learned  to  think,  compared  with  the 
one  wild,  soul-full  aspiration,  the  yearnings  unutterable,  that  come 
with  the  wounded  soldier's  thoughts  of  home. 

Ten  days  after  the  battle  arrivals  from  the  North  began  to 
stream  in.  Individuals,  brimming  over  with  congratulations  and 
words  of  cheer  for  the  fortunate  brother,  or  son,  or  friend  who 
had  happily  braved  the  storjn  of  battle,  and  was  here  in  his  place 
at  the  front  to  tell  the  story — or  who  had  come  to  soothe  and  com 
fort  his  sufferings,  if  he  had  survived  a  less  fortunate  fate — or  to 
perform  the  last  sorrowful  task  of  bereaved  affection  in  the  re 
moval  of  his  clay  to  the  quiet  grave-yard  at  home  ;  delegations 
from  cities  and  States  ;  Sanitary  Commissions,  with  welcome  sup 
plies  for  the  needy,  or — without ;  and  once  I  remember  seeing  one 
wearing  upon  his  breast  a  little  steel  plate,  having  a  simple  device 
engraved  upon  it  containing  the  words,  UU.  S.  Christian  Commis 
sion,"  with  his  gray  blanket  rolled  up  and  slung,  soldier-wise,  over 
his  shoulder,  his  haversack  and  canteen  by  his  side,  and  a  tin-cup 
hanging  at  his  belt. 

It  was  nearly  two  weeks  before  my  system  yielded  much  to  the 
violence  it  had  suffered.  Then  came  a  long,  sleepless  night  of 
torture ;  appetite  failed  next,  and  spirits  and  strength,  I  could 
daily  feel,  were  deserting  me  together.  At  last  Wynne  contrived 
my  transfer  to  Nashville.  Skillful,  kind,  and  constant  had  been 
the  care  bestowed  upon  the  stranger  comrade  by  those  whom  now 
I  was  leaving;*  and  my  feeble  thanks,  as  I  tottered  out  to  the  am 
bulance,  were  but  the  shadowing  forth  of  a  great  kindling  gratitude 
that  will  burn  continually  so  long  as  spirit  retains  its  consciousness. 
The  sun  was  throwing  broad,  lengthened  shadows  across  the  streets 
of  Nashville,  and  though  the  day  had  been  rather  warm  and  genial 

*  Especially  by  George  Borden,  Company  C,  Ninetieth  Ohio. 


606  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

since  the  sky  cleared  in  the  morning,  the  evening  air  was  fresh 
ening  chill  and  wintry,  when  the  ambulance  stopped  before  the  iron 
gate  of  the  inclosure  of  Number  Fourteen,  and,  with  a  feeling  of 
complete  exhaustion  that  I  was  loath  to  recognize,  I  was  lifted  out 
and  borne  on  a  stretcher  up  into  a  comfortable,  airy  room  in  the 
second  story.  A  kind  of  sacredness  will  ever  be  associated  in  my 
mind  with  the  remembrance  of  that  little  square  room,  which  now 
I  was  not  to  leave  again  for  more  than  three  long  months.  It 
was  there  that  Death  drew  near  and  bent  over  my  pillow,  so  close 
that  I  could  feel  his  icy  breath  upon  my  cheek,  while  in  mute, 
ghostly  silence  we  looked  steadfastly  each  in  the  other's  face  for 
weeks  together.  It  was  there,  too,  that  the  All-Merciful  came 
likewise,  encircling  my  sinking  frame  with  an  arm  all-powerful, 
and  spreading  about  my  couch  the  tokens  of  a  loving-kindness 
ever  new  and  inexhaustible.  God  be  praised  !  I  was  spared  to 
live. 

Here  I  had  come  among  friends.  I  knew  the  surgeon*  and 
some  of  the  attendants;  the  ward- master  f  was  an  old  mess-mate  of 
mine,  and  "Wynne  could  be  with  me  daily.  Resting  at  last  in  the 
cot  prepared  for  me,  how  grateful  seemed  the  fresh,  white  sheets, 
and  the  soft,  ample  pillows  !  and  how  it  enhanced  the  pleasure, 
as  I  read  the  print  upon  each,  "  From  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society 
of  the  Ladies  of  Northern  Ohio,"  to  recognize  in  them  the  tokens 
that,  far  removed  as  duty  and  distance  had  made  us,  yet  in  the 
faithful  woman's  heart  there  at  home  we  were  nearer  and  dearer 
than  ever. 

Spite  of  care  and  nursing,  weakness  continued  to  gain  upon  me. 
Oh,  but  to  reach  home  !  One  morning  I  heard  footsteps  approach 
ing  in  the  hall  without,  and  the  door  opened.  Wynne  entered, 
and,  though  I  could  not  turn  my  head  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  his 

companion,  I  knew  the  whole  truth  in  an  instant — it  was  S , 

who  had  come  to  bring  me  home.  It  was  too  much,  and  I  wept 
like  a  child.  But  I  was  not  now  to  go  home.  A  rebel  raid  had 
severed  railroad  connection  with  Louisville ;  and  while  a  fleet  of 
steamboats,  one  of  which  would  bear  me  northward,  lay  waiting  at 
the  wharves  for  the  necessary  convoy  of  a  gunboat,  the  danger  that 
I  had  feared  overtook  me. 

It  was  Thursday  morning,  I  recollect,  in  the  first  week  of  Feb- 

*Dr.  Fisher  W.Ames.  t John  Collins. 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTER   STONE   RIVER.  CO 7 

ruary.  The  night,  as  usual,  had  passed  wearily  and  wakeful ;  but 
punctually  at  six  o'clock,  just  as  the  first  gray  glimmer  of  dawn 
began  to  steal  through  the  closed  shutters,  the  bugle  sounded  the 
reveille,  and  the  hospital  was  all  life  and  stir  again.  In  our  soli 
tary,  detached  room,  occupied  by  two  wounded  officers  and  another 
untitled  one  besides  myself,  the  nurse  was  bustling  about,  busy  in 
putting  matters  in  order  for  the  day,  when  suddenly  I  felt  a  pe 
culiar,  quick  throb — so  it  seemed — in  the  right  shoulder,  and  then 
a  warm  trickling  down  the  arm.  I  raised  my  left  hand  to  my 
shoulder,  and,  when  I  removed  it,  saw  that  it  was  besmeared  with 
blood.  Somehow  it  scarcely  startled  me — not  that  I  did  not  know 
the  fearful  hazard  of  secondary  hemorrhage — but  I  called  the 
nurse,  and  he  hastened  for  the  surgeon.  He  was  gone  but  a  little 
while,  yet  as  many  moments  more  and  his  return  would  have  been 
only  to  a  white,  warm  corpse.  I  remember  the  sensation  as  viv 
idly  as  though  its  horrors  had  been  but  an  hour  ago.  I  could 
feel  myself  sinking  away ;  a  quiet,  painless  lethargy  was  stealing 
over  my  brain ;  fixed  upon  the  wall  opposite,  my  eyes  saw  objects 
dim,  trembling,  spectral ;  in  my  ears  were  strange,  unearthly  ring 
ings,  such  as  I  know  not  how  to  liken.  Earth  was  receding — 
eternity  at  hand. 

"When  Wynne  comes  bid  him  good-by  for  me.  I  am  going  at 
last." 

The  lieutenant's*  voice  came  distinctly,  cheerfully: 

"Never  give  up,  my  boy!  You  are  worth  a  hundred  dead  men. 
We'll  save  you  yet." 

The  surgeon  f  and  nurse  entered  the  room  together.  I  remem 
ber  closing  my  eyes  with  a  feeling  of  utter  weariness,  and  a  calm 
desireless  content — nothing  more.  When  I  came  to  my  senses 
again  the  ward-master  was  supporting  me  with  his  left  arm,  and 
with  the  other  hand  was  emptying  a  tumbler  of  raw  liquor  into 
my  mouth,  while  the  surgeon  had  just  succeeded  in  staunching 
the  flow  of  blood  with  some  powerful  styptic.  A  strange,  weird 
sensation — that  vague,  dreamy  return  to  consciousness.  I  have 
marveled  at  it  since  with  my  untutored  notions  of  psychology;  but 
distinctly  predominant  over  all  else  came  first  the  thought  of  up 
braiding,  for  their  cruel  care,  the  forms  that  were  bending  over  me. 

*  Lieutenant  Heston,  Seventeenth  Kentucky.    The  other  officer  was  Lieu 
tenant  Wood,  Nineteenth  Illinois, 
f  Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander,  surgeon  of  the  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 


608  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

Those  moments  of  syncope,  when  over  my  soul  had  rolled  the 
waters  of  oblivion,  I  seemed  to  feel  had  been  a  very  heaven  of 
delight,  and  it  was  pitiful  service  to  recall  me  thence  to  life  and 
suffering  again. 

How  shall  I  describe  the  days  and  weeks  that  followed? — the 
infantile  weakness;  the  utter  prostration  of  all  the  powers  of  mind 
and  body  that  form  the  glory  and  the  strength  of  manhood  ;  the 
weary  days  and  wakeful  nights  ;  the  hopeless  endurings  of  pain ; 
the  thousand  little  nameless  miseries  that  nested  in  my  cot,  and 
made  it  a  place  of  racking  torture  day  and  night  ?  Still  less  how 
can  I  hope  to  find  in  words  the  power  to  tell  all  that  was  lavished 
upon  the  helpless  wretch  of  tender  care  that  never  wearied,  and 
a  devotion  which  human  affection  could  carry  no  further?  How 
hope  to  be  able  to  speak,  as  fain  I  would,  of  the  long  watchings 
and  ministries  incessant,  the  kindly,  cheery  words  and  loving  offices 
of  those  true,  faithful  ones  about  me  whose  services  I  know  I  can 
never  repay  ? 

I  began  to  rally  somewhat  in  a  few  days,  and,  when  he  could 

stay  no  longer,  S went  home  without  me.  My  heart  was  full 

when  the  farewells  came  to  be  said  that  evening ;  but,  though  my 
eyes  were  dim  with  tears,  and  my  voice  quavered  brokenly,  it  was 
not  all  for  that.  My  nurse  was  gifted  with  an  exquisite  ear  for 
music,  and  a  voice  whose  melody  and  pathos  linger  in  my  memory 
^even  now;  and  the  influences  of  taste  and  cultivation,  with  a  tem 
perament  gushing  with  genuine  fine  feeling,  had  improved  them 
both.  To-night  Desire — his  birth-place  was  in  sunny  France,  he 
told  us — sat  by  the  grate-fire  humming  over  a  few  simple  airs,  in 
which  he  was  joined  by  the  two  officers,  who  likewise  formed  part 
of  his  charge,  and  the  trio  together  produced  a  harmony  rather 
sweet  and  soothing.  At  length  he  broke  forth  into  the  "  Battle- 
Cry  of  Freedom  ;  "  and,  as  the  others  caught  up  the  refrain,  the 
notes  swelled  higher  and  louder,  till  time  and  place  seemed  well- 
nigh  forgotten.  The  song  was  a  new  one  to  me  then,  and  so  sung, 
it  thrilled  me  inexpressibly.  The  early  days  of  the  war ;  the 
grand  uprising  of  the  loyal  North ;  the  wild,  burning  enthusiasm 
of  Sumter  times ;  the  calm  resolves  of  an  earlier  period  that  had 
left  but  little  then  to  be  decided ;  the  grand  infinitude  of  princi 
ple — of  Right,  and  Truth,  and  Justice — that  was  underlying  the 
whole  fierce  struggle,  and  had  made  our  cause  one  that  it  was, 
oh!  how  noble  a  thing  to  have  fought  and  suffered  for,  and,  if 


IN   HOSPITAL   AFTER   STONE   RIVER.  609 

need  be,  yet  to  die  for!  Such  memories  came  surging  back  over 
my  poor,  weak,  disordered  braiu,  in  a  wild,  sweeping  rush  of  feel 
ing  which  I  was  powerless,  utterly,  to  control. 

Day  by  day  the  surgeon  pronounced  me  better.  By  and  by  I 
grew  able,  with  a  little  assistance,  to  totter  across  the  room,  and 
once  more  hope  revived.  But  the  dull  red  smear  that  stained  the 
wall  right  above  my  cot  was  a  constant  reminder  of  the  perils  I 
had  not  yet  passed,  and  forbade  any  assurance  of  absolute  safety. 
The  22d  of  February  drew  near,  whereon  the  mottled  loyalty  of 
Nashville  was  to  be  made  manifest  by  divers  demonstrative  beto- 
kenings  of  the  most  approved  usage.  On  the  night  preceding  it 
Wynne  and  I  talked  "long  together,  till  I  persuaded  him  to  relax 
his  vigils  so  much  as  to  seek  a  little  rest,  reclining  in  a  high- 
backed  chair  placed  at  my  bed-side.  I  watched  him  dropping  off 
into  a  transition  doze,  and  wondered  if  it  was  yet  midnight.  Every 
thing  was  so  still  I  could  hear  the  low  hissing  of  the  gas-jet, 
though  the  flame  was  hidden  by  a  shade  dexterously  improvised 
from  a  folded  newspaper,  and  could  note  every  nibble  of  a  little 
venturesome  mouse  gnawing  away  in  the  bureau  which  occupied 
the  nearest  corner  of  the  room.  Suddenly  I  felt  a  warm  gushing 
stream  coursing  down  the  breast.  I  knew  its  meaning  in  an  in 
stant — arterial  hemorrhage  from  the  superior  thyroid.  I  shouted 
to  Wynne,  though  he  wakened  at  the  first  sound  of  my  voice.  To 
spring  from  his  chair,  to  rouse  the  nurse  and  dispatch  him  for  the 
surgeon,  to  cut  away  the  covering  bandages,  was  the  work  of  no 
more  time  than  it  has  taken  me  to  tell  it.  This  time  I  was 
alarmed,  and  the  heart,  beating  fearfully,  but  poured  out  its  life- 
current  the  faster.  It  was  well  that  appliances  were  at  hand,  ready 
prepared  for  such  an  emergency,  for  my  life  hung  upon  a  quad 
ruplicate  of  minutes.  I  heard  Wynne  breathing  hard  and  quick ; 
but  his  hand  was  steady  as  he  poured  on  the  astringent  powder, 
and  held  it  in  place  with  the  thumb,  first  upon  one  side,  then, 
when  the  crimson  stream  burst  forth  likewise  at  the  remoter 
wound,  upon  both.  He  succeeded. 

"  Thank  God,  I've  saved  you !  "  And  the  surgeon,  hurrying  in 
a  minute  later,  found  a  bed  all  dabbled  and  soaked  with  blood, 
and  in  it,  bolstered  half-upright,  a  pale,  statue-like  wretch,  but 
living  and  suffering  still. 

But  my  story  grows  wearisome.  Again  strength  slowly  returned; 
but  weeks  afterward  gangrene  threatened,  and  then  physical  endur- 
39 


610  THE   STORY   OF   A   REGIMENT. 

ance  seemed  exhausted.  The  bitterness,  the  despair,  the  despera 
tion  of  that  period,  I  may  never  attempt  to  make  known  to  another. 

Desire^  had  returned  to  the  field  a  fortnight  before.  Not  long 
since  I  saw  his  name  in  a  daily  newspaper;  it  was  heading  a  list 
of  the  killed  from  the  Nineteenth  Illinois  upon  the  Chickamauga. 
I  read  it  with  a  pang  of  genuine  sorrow,,  and  within  me  another 
voice  arose,  crying  for  "vengeance!" 

The  spring  smiled  in  due  season,  and  new  life,  and  strength,  and 
hope  came  with  it.  Out  through  the  window  I  could  see  the  suh- 
shine  resting  lovingly  upon  all  external  nature,  and  bathing  every 
object  in  mellow,  liquid  splendor.  Sometimes  I  fancied  that  I 
could  feel  the  zephyrs  sporting  about  the  room ;  and  from  the 
great,  glad,  free  outdoors  came  the  carol  of  birds — the  robin's 
warbling  gush  of  song,  the  twitter  of  swallows,  and  the  chirpings 
of  house-martins  as  they  fluttered  about  the  eaves.  One  Sabbath 
morning  my  nurse  brought  me  in  a  fresh,  green  bough,  the  ear 
liest  leafage  of  the  spring;  and  when  the  flowers  began  to  bloom 
the  little  table  at  my  bedside  was  beauteous  and  fragrant  with 
their  deckings-forth,  renewed  constantly  by  fair  hands, f  that  did 
the  service  of  kind  and  loyal  hearts  even  in  Nashville. 

Oh!  only  to  get  back  to  that  brave  world  of  life,  and  joy,  and 
beauty  again !  The  time  came  at  last,  and  home  and  friends  were 
won  once  more. 

Truly  it  was  a  marvelous  deliverance,  and  now  I  often  wonder 
why  it  was  so  signally  vouchsafed  to  me,  when  others,  happier 
and  more  useful  far,  by  dangers  less  and  more  remote,  perished 
on  every  side.  The  past  already  grows  distant  and  dream-like ; 
but  I  can  never  forget  the  scenes  and  sufferings,  or  the  devotion 
and  the  care  of  friends,  which  have  consecrated  the  memory  of 
those  times  that  together  make  up  the  recollections  of  my  expe 
rience  "  in  hospital  after  Stone  River." 

*  Desire  Chenoweth,  Company  A,  Nineteenth  Illinois. 

fMrs.  D.  D.  Dickey  (since  dead)  and  her  sisters,  the  Misses  Ufflngton. 


APPENDIX. 


EOSTER  OF  THE  INDEPENDENT  GUTHRIE  GREYS. 


THE  list  of  active  members  of  the  I.  G.  G.  Battalion  (as  shown  by  the 
roll-book)  on  the  16th  of  April,  1861,  when  recruiting  began  for  the  three- 
months'  Sixth  Ohio,  was  as  follows.  ( *  indicates  service  in  the  three- 
months'  Sixth  Ohio,  and  unless  otherwise  specified  as  a  commissioned 
officer;  |  indicates  similar  service  in  the  three-years'  Sixth  Ohio;  J,  in 
some  other  organization.)  This  list  is,  probably,  not  quite  perfect,  but  is 
as  nearly  so  as  circumstances  permit  the  writer  to  make  it : 


Major  (vacancy). 

Adjutant,  Eliphalet  Loring  (naval  service).*! 

Quartermaster,  \V.  Byron  Carter. 

Paymaster,  G.  II.  Barbour. 

Judge  Advocate.  James  V.  Guthrie.  ! 

Surgeon,  F.  11.  Ehrinan.*!! 

Kn.-i.mi,  J.  C.  Parker  (naval  service).*  1 1 

Sergeant-Major,  Charles  C.  Pierson. 

OFFICERS  OF  FIRST  COMPANY. 

Captain,  Marcus  A.  Westcott.*! 
First  Lieutenant,  .John  31.  Wilson.* 
(Second  Lieutenant,  Henry  McAlpin.'t 
First    Sergeant,    .lames     .M .    Donovan    (also, 


three-months  term  as  i''ir-f  S-rgi-ant). ! 
ergeants.  Frank  Tail,  Aninii  Baldwin  (o 
hundred  days'  service)  !,  and  Charles  E. 


(one- 


Corporals,  Julius  C.  Guthrie,*  N.  L.  Ander 
son*!,  Lewis  S.  Worthiugtoii*,  and  B.  It. 
Wilson. 

OFFICERS  OF  SECOND  COMPANY. 

Captain,  Julian  White.* 

First  Lieutenant,  J.  U  iliis  Wilmington.*  t 

Second  Lieutenant,  Thomas  8.  ltoyse.*t 

First  Sergeant,  John  II.  Carter.! 

Sergeants,  Henry  H.  Tinker*!,  Joseph  A.  An 
drews  (also,  three-months'  term  as  First 
Sergeant)*,  and  Dudley  S.  Gregory  (not 
commissioned).*! 

Corporals,  Charles  B.  Russell  (also,  three- 
months'  term  as  Sergeant)!,  C.  B.  Frazier, 
John  \V.  Morgan*!,  and  John  W.  Beesley, 
Jr.  (not  commissioned).* 


COMRADES  (PRIVATES). 
William    P.    Anderson    (also,   three-months' 

term  as  non-commissioned  officer),  t  J 
C.  0.  Andress. 
James  Bunse.*! 
Solomon  J.  Bidwell  (also,  three-months'  term 

as  non-commissioned  olh'cer).! 
Augustus  B.  Biilerbeck.*! 
A.  H.  Booking  (naval  service). J 
T.  A.  Bosl-y/ 
E.  P.  Brasher. 
J.H.Burkbam. 
William  D.  Bnrkham. 
And.  S.  Burt.! 

John  W.  Carrigan  (not  commissioned).* 
Alex.  C.  Christopher.*! 
James  H.   Cochuower  (also,  both  terms   as 

non-coinniissioned  officer).! 
William  Disney  (one -hundred  days'  service).! 
H.  A.  Edwards.! 
It.  G.  Kilis. 
David  A.  Enyart.J 
Lewis  Fagin,  Jr. 
L.  M.  Frank. 
\Villiani  S.Getty.*! 
Kindlon  Goddard,  Jr. 
Charles  II.  Ilerou.*! 

(icorae  Hodel,  Jr.  (.not  commissioned).*  t 
ti.  31.  llulburd. 
M.  S.  Kramer. 
Peter  F.  Lapham  (one-hundred  days'  service 

—  not  commissioned).! 
Charles  Lawrence. 
Ainini  W.  Lord. 
W.  w.  MeFarlaud.! 
M.  M.  Marks. 


(611) 


612 


APPENDIX. 


Jnlos  J.  Montagnier.*f 

Augustus-G.  Parker. 

Charles  0.  Peck  (also,  three-months' term). f 

William  H.  Pierce  (not  commissioned),*! 

Kobert  liitchie. 

Jainea  Y.  Semple  (also,  three  months'  term  as 

non-commissioned  officer).  I 
Edward  M.  Shoemaker.*  •"• 
George  S.  Smith.*! 
Kichard  Southgate.*! 


George  B.  Tait. 

W.  G.  Taylor. 

W.  8.  Toiliver. 

Hugh  Tudor. 

W.lt.  Tudor. 

William  Vandivier. 

J.  Lloyd  Wayne,  Jr.  (one-hundred  days'  serv- 

J.  Winner. 

John  Wooley.J 


The  following  names  appeared  upon  previous  rolls  as  active  members, 
but,  for  various  reasons  (as  resignation,  removal,  transfer  to  life  honorary 
roll,  etc.),  had  been  dropped  before  the  16th  of  April,  1861.  Among  them 
are  many  remembered  as  energetic  and  influential  members,  some  of  whom 
retained  on  active  membership  up  to  a  very  short  period  before  the  out 
break  of  the  war: 


Dr.  J.  Adams. 

Frank  Alter. 

John  H.  Anderson. 

Joseph  L.  Antram  (also,  three-mouths'  term 

as  non-commissioned  officer)-! 
Harry  G.  Armstrong. I 
John  A.  Ashury.* 

T.  F.  Baker  (one-hundred  days'  service).  } 
James  G.  Baldwin.  I 
John  M.  Baldwin. 
Thomas  W.  Baldwin. 
Caleb  Bates.  J 

D.  Vince  Bennett. 
Aaron  S.  Belts,  t 
A.  Bt-vis. 

E.  J.  Binford. 
William  K.  Bosley.*! 
Thomas  H.  Boyian.*! 
Charles  11.  Brutton.*! 

E.  A.  Buck. 

C.  J.  F.  Burley. 
Charles  G.  Carter. 
Charles  ('.  Champlin. 
Ed.  A.  Chandler. 

C.  M.  Chenoweth. 
Thomas  H.  Chenoweth. 
Charles  M.  Clarke.! 
James  M.  Clark. 

F.  G.  Cleneay. 
Phil.  B.  Cloon.  + 
John  W.  Coleman. 
John  C.  Cowpland. 
John  C.  Culbertson.  I 
Charles  Culenkamp. 
8.  G.  Cuyler. 
Frank  S.  Davis. 

E.  B.  IVniiisou.  J 

H.  M.  Diggins  (not  commissioned).? 

John  Eagan. 

ZN.  W.  Emerson. 

Samuel  C.  Erwiu.*! 

D.  K.  Este,  Jr. 
G'-or^e  Eustis. 
Frederick  J.  Ferris. 
Dr.  E.  Freeman. 
Lewis  French. 
William  1).  Gallagher. 
I.  U.  Gessner. 

C.  B.Gill. 

H.  B.  Gilmore. 
Presley  N.  Guthrie. 
Matt.  Hagen. 
J.  C.  Hare. 

D.  K.  Harvey. 

S.  T.  Hemmiuway. 
J.  L.  Hill. 
Charles  Hofer. 
John  F.Hoy.*!* 
H.  Huntington. 
Henry  G.  Irwin. 
William  S.  Irwin. 
Charles  J.  James. 


James  A.  Johnson.  J 

Frank  C.  Jones  (naval  service),  t 

John  J.  Jones. 

J..J.  Joslyn.; 

L.  H.  Kellogg. 

H.  W.  Kern  per. 

J.  W.  Kilbreth. 

.lames  Kincaid. 

John  K. nicker  (not  commissioned).*! 

George  P.  Lawson. 

F.  Leavitt. 

J.  W.  Lehman. 

Frank  Lewis. 

Thatcher  Lewis. 

Alexander  Lockwood. 

Charles  A.  Lockwood. 

J.  S.  Lockwood. 

John   Lonan. 

Ed.  Lovell  (.naval  service).  J 

John  D.  Lovell. 

John  J.  Lown. 

K.  B.  Lynch  (not  commissioned).! 

.luseph  J.  .McDowell. 

\V.  B.    \}cC,t  orge. 

Wm.  Wilson  3IcGrew. 

W.  H.  McKinney. 

l.B.  McLinn. 

M.  P.  McQuillan. 

C.  H.Marshall. 

A.  Martin.  I 

Frederick  II.  Mellen  (not  commissioned),  t 

A.  J.  Morrell. 

Charles  Mudge. 

W.C.  Neff. 

Samuel  B.  Neill. 

William  P.  Noble. 

Joseph  N.  Oliver. 

Daniel  Price. 

James  H    Price. 

William  W.  Price. 

William  M.Pursell. 

M.  Kan  ire  r. 

James  M.  Reynolds.  * 

Alex.  L.  Richmnnd. 

Anthouv  0.  Russell.*  t 

Daniel  Saver. 

Lehman  Schloss. 

Dr.  Samuel  Sexton,  t 

George  Sharp. 

K.  L.  Simonton. 

J.  J.  Slocum. 

Albert  I,.  Smith. 

Walter  J.  Smith.    ' 

J.  A.  Stevens. 

George  K.  Slillman. 

J.  H.  Stratton  (not  commissioned).*! 

S.  S.  Stratton. 

Charles  W.  Sullivan. 

Truxton  T.  Swift. 

E/ekiel  H.Tatem.*! 

S.  C.  J.  Thayer. 

David  Thomas. 


APPENDIX. 


613 


P.  B.  tlmstead. 
William  0.  Valletta. 

Junes  F.  Vim. .11. 
avid 8.  Wallace. 
Thomas  ('.  Wart-. 
George  B.  Weidler. 


William  B.  Wells. 

Carlo-ton  White. 
David  Wilcox. 
Aaron  Wiley. 
W.  W.  Winder. 


ROSTER  OF  THE  SIXTH  OHIO  (THREE- YEARS'  TERM). 


The  rosters  following  are  made  up  from  the  muster-out  rolls  on  file  in 
the  Adjutant-General's  Office,  at  Columbus.  Occasional  inaccuracies  in 
dates  and  the  spelling  of  names  may,  perhaps,  be  found,  and,  of  course, 
must  be  in  those  cases  where  the  muster-out  roll  is  in  error.  Members  of 
the  regiment  will  confer  a  favor  upon  the  writer  by  calling  his  attention 
to  them,  in  order  that  the  proper  corrections  may  be  made  in  subsequent 
editions,  should  any  be  called  for. 

The  writer  has  been  unable  to  procure  a  roster  of  the  three-months'  Sixth 
Ohio.  (See  foot-note  on  page  37.) 


FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Colonel,  N.  L.  Anderson. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Alex.  C.  Christopher. 
Major,  James  IJense. 
Surgeon.  Alfred  H.  Stephens. 
First  Assistant  Surgeon,  Israel  Bedell. 
Adjutant,  Everett  S.  Throop. 
Regimental  Quartermaster,  Josiah  W.  Slan- 
ker. 

Sergeant-Major,  Frank  H.  Mellon. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant,   Edwin  A.   Hanna- 

ford. 

Commissary-Sergeant,  Julius  L.  Stuart. 
Hospital  Steward,  Charles  E.  Lewis. 
Principal  Musician,  George  W.  I'yae. 
"  "  Charles  11.  Bueltel. 

Killed. 

Major  Samuel  C.  Erwiu,  Nov.  25,  1863. 
Adjutant  Albert  G.  Williams,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Resigned. 

Major  Anthony  0.  Russell,  Feb.  23, 1S63. 
Adjutant  Charles  H.  Heron,  Amr.  1,  1862. 
Quartermaster  Edward  .M .  Shoemaker,  Oct. 

22   1863. 
Assistant  Surgeon  Fisher  W.  Ames,  June  12, 

1863. 
Assistant  Surgeon  Wm.  W.  Fountain,  Aug.  8, 

1863. 

Honorably  Discharged. 
Colonel  Wm.  K.  Bosley,  Aug.  19,  1862. 
Principal  Musician  Jacob  A.  Filer,  Nov.  21, 

1*>2. 
Principal  Musician  Benj.  F.  Phillips,  Nov.  21, 

1862. 

Promoted  (Commissioned  in  the  Regiment). 
Bergeant-Major  W.  P.  Anderson,  Aug.  3,  '61. 
Wm.  E.  Sheridan,  Dec.  12,  '62. 
Henry  Gee,  March  20,  lN',2. 
A.  G.  Williams,  June  '•'>,  18(52. 
James  F.  Irwin,  Nov.s.  1M'>2. 
Jas.  F.  Graham,  Jan.  10,  '03. 


Quartermaster-Sergeant  Chas.  C.  Peck,  Dec. 

12,  1861. 
Quartermaster-Sergeant  Wm.  R.  Goodnough, 

April  22,  L863. 

Commissary-Sergeant    Josiah     W.    Slanker, 
Jan.  12,  1863. 

Transferred. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant    Robert    W.    Wise, 
May  31,  1862. 

COMPANY  A. 
Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Frank   S.  Schieffer. 
First  Lieutenant  James  K.  Reynolds. 
Second  Win.  R.  Goodnough. 

First  Sergeant  TTenry  A.  Petty. 
Sergeant  John  W.  Moore. 
Edwin  Edwards. 
Robert  G.  Delauey 
"          Brian  I>.  Critchell. 
Corporal  John  A.  dishing. 
Private  Win.  P.  Babbitt. 

Theodore  Creager. 
"        Alex.  Drennen. 
"        Chas.  F.  Dressel. 
John  A.  Forbes. 
Darius  H.  Gates. 
John  W.  Hussey. 
George  C.  James. 
Michael  .1.  Kelley. 
Charles  D.  Martindale. 
Charles  Messerschmidt. 
Isaac  Newman. 
Christopher  Koth. 
"        Clement  Schwarte. 
"        Theodore  W.  Seib. 
Oliver  H.  P.Tracy. 
James  Valentine. 
"       John  A.  West. 
"       Henry  W.  Wilson. 

African  undercook  James  Malone. 

Recruits  (Transferred  June  7,  1861). 
Private  Henry  Coon. 
"       Win.  De  Charms. 


614 


APPENDIX. 


,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Second  Lieut.  Oh  as.  H.  Foster,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
Sergeant  James  F.  Canady,  Jan.  29,  1863. 
Corporal  Kirkland  W.  Cowing,  Oct.  7,  1863. 
Private  Frank  B.  Brown,  Nov.  9,  1st',:;. 

Frank  H.  JIalliday,  Feb.  1,  1863. 
"        Win.  Krohmer,  Jan.  7,  1863. 

Edwin  B.  O'Brian,  Dec.  12,  1863. 
"       Win.  S.  Shaw,  Doc.  31,  1862. 

Died  of  Disease. 

grporal -James  M.  Newman,  March  20,  1864. 
ivate  Henry  Daggert,  Juue  23,  1862. 

Officers  Resigned  and  Honorably  Discharged. 
Captain  Marcus  A.  Westcott,  March  9,  1863. 
"        Chas.  Gilrnan  (wounds),  Dec.  26,  '63. 
Second  Lieut.   Wm.  P.  Anderson  (.promoted 

A.  A.  G.),  Sept.  15,  1862. 

Transferred. 
First  Lieut.  Henry  McAlpin  (promoted),  to 

Co.  B,  July  6,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  Jonathan  Burt  Holmes,  to  Co.  B, 

May  1.  1863. 
Second  Lieut.  James  M.  Donovan  (promoted), 

to  Co.  E,  Sept.  22,  1861. 
Second  Lieut.  George  T.  Lewis,  to  Co.  I,  May 

I,  1863. 

First  Sergeant  F.  H.  Mellen  (appointed  Ser 
vant-Major),  April  1,  1863. 

Private  J.  A.  Fifer  (appointed  Chief  Musi 
cian),  Dec.  1,  1861. 

Private  Chas.  C.  Peck  (appointed  Q.  31. -Ser 
geant),  Dec.  1,  1861. 

Private  Benj.  F.  Phillips  (appointed  Chief 
Musician),  Dec.  1,  1861. 

Private  George  W.  Pyne  (appointed  Chief  Mu 
sician),' July  5,  1863. 

Private  J.  W.  Slanker  (appointed  Commis 
sary-Sergeant),  Aug.  27,  1862. 

Private  J.  L.  Stuart  (appointed  Comniissary- 
Sergeaut),  Feb.  2,  1&63. 

Private    James    Harrahan,   to  V.   R.   Corps, 

March  15,  W64. 
Private  Henry  Herman,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Jan. 

II,  1864. 

Discharged  (*   signifies  for  promotion  in  Sixth 

Ohio,  and  i  for  promotion  mother  commands). 
First  Sergeant  J.  B.  Holmes,*  Nov.  13,  1862. 
"  "'        Tlios.  II.  Hunt.!  Oct.  10,  1861. 

"  "        E.  S.  Throop,*  Feb.  4,  1863. 

Sergeant  Chas.  I).  Jones, t  Oct.  Id,  1,^1. 
Albert  De  Villia,  Feb.  26,  1863. 
Corp.  Jos.  A.  Culberteon.t  Oct.  Id,  1861. 
Frank  R.  Jones,t  June  29,  1861. 
('has.  Loomis,!  Oct.  13.  1861. 
Israel  Ludlow,!  June  25,  1*1. 
Channing  Richards,!  Oct.  10,  1861. 
Pr  vate  Win.  Bradford,!  Aug,  27,  1861. 
"        Jos.  A.  Christman,  May  25,  1862. 

Henry  31.  Cist,!  Oct.  10,  isiil. 
"  Frank  R.  Davis,  Feb.  2,  isr,:',. 
"  Geo.  D.  De  Charms,!  Dec.  31,  1861. 

Isaac  H.  De  Long,  Nov.  15,  1863. 
"        Chas.  M.  Evans,  Nov.  1,  1863. 
"        James  B.  Fairchild,  June  14,  1862. 
"        Theodore  C.  Fitch,*  April  17,  1863. 
"        Thos.  Fit/ffibbon,  Feb.  is,  1863. 
"        Lee  M.  Fitzhugh,!  April  15,. 1862. 
Louis  A.  Foot,  June  13,  1863. 
Wood  Fosdick,+  Sept.  10,  1861. 
Spencer  Franklin,!  Nov.  25,  1861. 
John  W.  Gamble,  Dec.  1,  1862. 
Welcome  L.  F.  Gates,  Dec.  4,  1862. 
Dudley  S.  Gregory,  Oct.  5,  l.sil. 
Win.  McL.  Gwynne,!  Oct.  5,  1861. 
Henry  F.  Hawkes,!  Sept.  10,  1861. 
Geo.  Hodel,  Dec.  18,  1862. 
Henry  Hook,  April  21,  1862. 
Wm.'H.  Jenkins,  Aug.  27.  1861. 
Chas.  Kinsey,!  Nov.  24,  1-62. 
Joim  Krucker,!  Oct.  10,  1861. 


Private  David  Love,  Feb.  7,  1862. 

Edward  Manser,!  Oct.  18,  1861. 
"        John  E.  Miner,  Oct.  10,  Is61. 
"        Elias  R.  Morifqjrt,!  Oct.  5,  1861. 
"        James  Moore,  Jan.  19,  1863. 

Robert  P.  Moore,!  Feb.  2,  1863. 

Levi  Newkirk,  Sept.  27,  1861. 
"        Walter  W.  Paddock,  Feb.  7,  1863. 
"        Samuel  H.  Perry.!  Oct.  23,  1861. 
"        James  K.  Reynolds,*  Nov.  24,  1862. 

Edward  S.  Richards,!  April  16,  1862. 
"        Herman  Rodel.  Feb.  7,  1863.     ' 

Thomas  M.  Selby,!  31  ay  6,  1862. 

Peter  Shaw,  31  arch  9,  1863. 
"        Edwin  F.  Smith, T  Auir.  24,  1861. 
"        John  R.  Stewart,  April  16,  1>63. 

Chas.  31.  Thompson,  March  10,  1863. 
"        Thos.  W.  Veatch,  Nov.  28,  1862. 
"        Alfred  \\Vst,  3Iay  23,  1862. 
"       Byron  D.  West,!  April  12,  1862. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Corporal  Jos.  Reel,  June  30,  1863. 
Private  Samuel  N.  Collings,  Dec.  9,  1861. 
"        Henry  31.  Lewis  (date  not  known). 
Clement  H.  Ma  i  -/erivtta,  Sept.  10,  ?62. 
Chas.  D.  31urdoch,  Oct.  31,  1862. 
Edwin  L.  Smith,  Dec.  9,  1861. 
Wagoner  George  \V.  Kelley,  Oct.  31,  1862. 

COMPANY  B. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Henry  C.  Choate. 
First  Lieut.  J.  Burt  Holmes. 

First  Sergeant  Geo.  B.  Young. 
Sergeant  Thos.  M.  Carr. 
Fred.  J.  Miller. 
"          Guy  C.  Near  ing. 
Henry  M.  Palm. 
Corporal  John  Harvey. 

Louis  N.  Kibby. 
David  Set. reiber. 
Fntl.  Rodenberg. 
"          Henry  W.  Kahle. 
Wagoner  Michael  Coleman. 
Private  John  Alves. 

John  C.  Bagott. 

Wm.  !iarn<-r.  \ 

Win  ReedBartlett. 

Christian  Behrens. 

Alonzo  Burgoyne, 

Carlton  ('.  Cable. 

Thomas  31.  Cleveland. 

.Mm  ('line. 

Win.  E.  Doherty. 

R.  Rush  Drake. 

John  DnfVey. 

Chas.  Fit/water. 

Emil  Fritz. 

Horace  Gate*. 

Albert  Goettle. 

John  Keiss. 

Sebastian  Lerg. 

Hiram  Marsh. 

Daniel  T.  Miles. 

Henry  31  i  Her. 

James  3Iitehell. 

Win.  31.  Owen. 

Louis  N.  Reif. 

Robert  Rippon. 

Adam  Rohe. 

Robert  Rowell. 

Andrew  Schuttenhelm. 

Lemuel  F.  Smith  (detached  in  Janu 
ary,  1863,  and  never  reported  after 
ward). 

Josiah  II.  Stratton. 

MOM'S  Thanhauser. 

James  Warren. 

James  B.  Watkins. 

Edward  \Vells. 

J.  Richard  Williamson. 

John  Adam  Ziegler  (prisoner  of  war 
at  muster-out). 


APPENDIX. 


615 


African  undercook  Pink  Beasler. 

"  Dauiel  Jennings. 

Recruit  (transferred  June  7,  1864). 
Private  Wilson  Rowell. 

Missing  in  Action. 

Private  Benj.  F.  Lewis,  Nov.  25,  1863. 
"       John  Logue,  April  7,  1863. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Captain  Henry  McAlpin,  Jan.  10,  1863. 
Corporal  1'hil.  15.  Ilelteiibeiii.  Sept.  I1.',  1863. 

"         David  II.  .Medary,  Jan.  •>,  1.SB3. 

"         Edwin  Jl.  Rowe,  Sept.  I '.i.  IN,;;. 
Private  Richard  K.  Allen,  Sept.  MI,  LS63. 

"        Jolin  Aufdcrhcide,  Sepl .  1'3,  1863. 

"        John  Boerst,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

"       Albert  Hardy,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Died  of  Disease. 
Private  Michael  Behrmaii,  Aug.  3,  1863. 

Officers  Resigned  and  Honorably  Discharged. 
Captain  Jos.  A.  Andrews,  April  22,  1S62. 

"       Jule.s  J.  Montagnier  (wounds),  Feb. 

18,  1863. 

Second  Lieut.  Wesley  B.  McLane.  Oct.  25,  '63. 
"  «'    Thos.  S.  Royse,  April  14,  1862. 

Transferred. 
First  Lieut.  James   K.    Reynolds    (detached 

and  never  served  with  Co.),  to  Co.  A,  May  1, 

1863. 
First  Lieut.  Chas.  B.  Russell  (promoted),  to 

Co.  D,  Nov.  28,  1862. 
Second  Lieut.  Albert  G.Williams  (promoted), 

to  Adjutant,  Nov.  20,  1862. 
Private  Robert  Andrew,  to  Co.  H,  June  19, 

1861. 
Private  Edwin  A.  Hannaford  (appointed  Q. 

M. -Sergeant),  May  2,  1863. 

Sergeant  Wm.  J.  Thorp,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Sept. 

30,  1863. 
Corporal  E.  Haunaford,  to  V.  11.  Corps,  Dec. 

1,  1863. 
Private  Chas.  Burckhardt,  to  V.  R.   Corps, 

Aug.  1,  1863. 
Private  Auson  Clapper,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Oct. 

3),  1863. 

Discharged  (*  signifies  for  promotion  in  Sixth 
Ohio,    and    t   Jor    promotion    in   other    com 
mands). 
First  Sergeant  George  W.  Cormany,*  Feb.  4, 

1863. 

First  Sergeant  Chas.  H.  Foster,*  Aug.  1,  1862. 
James  Y.  Semplej  Sept.  6,  '61. 
Sergeant  Hibbard  H.  liendricks,  Dec.  4,  1862. 
"          Stephen  A.  Thayerj  Jan.  9,  1862. 

Edmund  B.  Warren,*  July  1,  1862. 
Corporal  Edward  Bultman,  March  25,  1863. 

John  11.  Taylor,  Oct.  22,  1862. 
Musician  Gustave  Frauke,  March  2T>,  1863. 
Private  Edwin  H.  Andrews,  Jan.  11,  1863. 
John  Collins,  Jan.  20,  ks63. 
Theophilus  Davis,  April  14,  1863. 
"        Edward  F.  Getticr,*  Dec.  M,  1861. 
"        Jacob  Hanueman,  July  27,  1«63. 
"        John  Helfenbein,  June  22,  1863. 
"        Hugo  Hochstaedter,  Sept.  — ,  1863. 
"        Henry  P.  Jones,  Oct.  4,  1862. 
"       Henry  Kiess,  May  23,  1864. 
Jos.  Lo'-ser,  Jan.  17,  1862. 
John  P.  Marion,  Sept.  — ,  1862. 
Paul  Merker,  Aug.  22,  18*12. 
Arthur  A.  Parker,  July  31,  1S62. 
Henry  E.  Roberts,  March  19,  1863. 
Samuel  D.  Schooley.t  Aug.  26,  1862. 
Fred.  H.  Smethorst,  March  12,  1863. 
Wm.  J.  Souther,  May  6,  1663. 
Win.  II.  VVimloli-r.tSept.  7,  1862. 
Samuel  R.  Wiurain,  Dec.  27,  1862. 


Dropped,  etc. 

Corporal  Chas.  W.  T.ille,  Aug.  18,  1W2. 
Private  Siuire  I).  Cray.  Nor.  T>.  L863. 

Jarol.  11. nick,  Oct.  1,  1862. 

Ellis  K.  Lloyd,  Oct.  1,  18«2, 

Win  A.  -Malonee,  Sept.   1,  1861. 

Noah  H.  Phillips,  June  MI,  1861. 

Joseph  Srholes,   Dec.   1,  lxi]. 

Edwin  Stace,  Oct.  1,  1862. 

John  Wilson,  July  11,  1862. 

COMPANY  C. 

Mustfri^l  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Richard  Southgate. 
First  Lieut.  John  R.  Kestner. 
Second  Lieut.  Leonard  Boice. 

First  Sergeant  Matt.  II.  Hamilton. 

Sergeant  John  C.  Pope. 

Francis  II.  Thieman. 
"          \\  illiam  Boyd. 
Corporal  Edward  P.  Home. 
James  Jordan. 
Mervin  Growl. 
"         John  Sykes. 
"         John  C.  Hefferman. 
Private  Fred.  Auberdak. 
"        William  B"nte. 
"        Antoiiie  Brown. 
"       John  Callahan. 
"        John  Collins. 
"        Henry  F.  Engels. 
"       James  Estell. 

"       David  Fit/gibbon  (prisoner  of  war  at 
muster-out). 

Jos.  T.  Fox. 
"        Hugh  P.  Gaddis  (at  Chattanooga  at 

muster-out  of  regiment). 
"        Wm.  Uadskeep. 

Henry  HaMie. 
"        David  Hewson. 

Kayran  Horan. 

Casper  Keller. 

John  Laerch. 

Wm.  L.'ickhardt. 

Wm.  Lidell. 

Geor-e  Lind. 

Francis  Ludwig. 

Edmund  Luthy. 

Mitchell  S.  Morsbeck. 

Bernard  C.  Myers. 

Thos.  J.  Ryan  (prisoner  of  war,  etc.) 

George  Santholf. 

Ernest  Schreiber. 

Franks  Scott, 

Augustus  Seiver. 

Wm.  L.  Sin  .ill. 

Henry  Stocklin. 

Jacob  Stocklin. 

Alfred  H.  Sulser. 
"        Lawrence  Swart/,. 

Bernard  Uhling. 

African  undercook  Nathaniel  Burnett. 
Recruits  (transferred  June  7,  1863). 
Private  Edwin  Ayres. 
"       James  McPeak. 

W  illiam  Whiteside. 
Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds). 
Corporal  Alois  Kaolin,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
Private  Wm.  Schoch,  Dec.  25,  lxt',3. 

Killed  Accidentally. 
Corporal  Hibbard  P.  Ward,  Aug.  3,  1862. 

Died  of  Disease* 

Private  Francis  Kelley,.  Dec.  30,  1863. 
"        Wm.  Taatle,  March  15,  1862. 
"       Herman  Volkers,  Oct.  24,  1861. 

Officers  Resigned  aud  Honorably  Discharged. 
Captain  Jame's  W.  Wilmington,  July  6,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  Francis  II.  Ehrnian  (appointed 

A.  C.  S.),  Sept.  25V  1862.. 


616 


APPENDIX. 


Transferred. 

Second  Lieut.  Chas.  Gilman  (promoted),   to 
Co.  A,  Sept.  11,  1862. 

Private  Adolph  Jurgens,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Oct. 
29,  1863. 

Discharged. 

First  Sergeant  Wm.  Brown,  Sept.  23,  1863. 
Sergeant  John  Crotty,  March  19,  1863. 

"         Augustus  W.  Peters,  April  14,  1863. 

Francis  R.  Tresch,  Aug.  29,  1861. 
Corporal  Ezekiel  Craven,  Aug.  29,  1861. 

Francis  Farley,  Aug.  29,  1861. 

Thos.  Kerwin,  June  8,  1863. 
Private  Justice  H.  Achtermeyer,  Dec.  2,  1861. 

Geo.  M.  Backus,  Feb.  6,  1862. 

Wm.  A.  Baldwin,  Dec.  9,  1863. 

Rufus  E.  Bryan,  April  30,  1863. 

James  Carney,  April  8,  1863. 

Dennis  Collins,  Feb.  4,  1863. 

Horace  A.  Kelley  (for  promotion  in 
another  command),  Aug.  26,  1862. 

Fred.  B.  King,  Aug.  29,  1861. 

Chas.  Gauckler,  Feb.  20,  1863. 

Herman  KloemVr,  Feb.  27,  1S63. 

Wm.  Knehler,  Nov.  10.  !Mi2. 

Henry  W.  Kruse,  April  21,  1863. 

Joseph  Kunkle,  Aug.  29,  1861. 

Wm.  L.  Mackenzie,  July  24,  1863. 

Martin  Median.  Sept.  24,  1861. 

Francis  M.  Murphy,  April  30,  1863. 

Thomas  Oliver,  Feb.  6,  1862. 

Simeon  B.  Rice,  April  30,  1863. 

Michael  lingers    Feb.  6,  1862. 

John  Sapiens,  Jan.  19,  1863. 

Andrew  Schube,  June  1'j,  1863. 

James  \V.  Sharp,  Feb.  14,  1863. 

John  K.  Smith,  Jan.  6,  1863. 

Theodore  Wager  (to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Artillery),  June  22,  1862. 
"        Joseph  Weisl.rod,  April  30,  1863. 
"        Edward  Williams,  Aug.  7,  1862. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Sergeant  Bernard  O'Farrell,  Nov.  18,  1862. 
Private  Gustave  B.-thge,  Oct.  1,  1862. 

John  Burke,  April  10,  1863. 
"        Joseph  Davis,  June  3d,  1861. 
"        James  31.  Donohue,  Aug.  1,  1862. 
"        Clements  Dulle.  June  30,  1861. 
"        John  Farmer,  June  30,  1861. 

Jas.  W.  Haslem,  April  10,  1863. 
"        James  W.  Kitchens,  April  10,  1863. 
"        Wm.  H.  Holden,  July  18,  1862. 
"        Chas.  Keiver,  Sept.  4,  1861. 

Jolin  B.  3IcGee,  June  30,  1861. 

George  Mackley,  March  1,  1862. 

James  B.  Meehan,  Nov.  26,  1861. 

George  Moore,  Oct.  1,  1862. 

Herman  Mosler,  July  20,  1862. 
"        Gustave  Rhein,  Ang-.  1,  1862. 
"        Frederick  Smith,  June  30,  1861. 
"        Joseph  Trickier,  April  2},  1864. 
"        Wm.  H.  Van  Pelt,  July  18,  1862. 
"       George  Walters,  Oct  1,  1862. 

C031PANY  D. 

Mustered  out  wifh  Regiment. 
Captain  Chas.  B.  Russell. 
First  Lieut.  Geo.  W.  31orris. 
Second  Lieut.  Win.  R.  Glisan. 

First  Sergeant  Wm.  F.  Balming. 
Sergeant  Wm.  Bowers. 
Ewell  West. 

"         Amos  Willoughby. 

"         Dennis  O'Brien. 
Corporal  Wm.  A.  Clockeuburg  (absent). 

"         Wm.  A.  Yates. 

"         Wm.  H.  Drips. 

"         John  Turner. 
Musician  Win.  A.  Cormany.      . 

"         Oliver  D.  Blakeslee. 
Private  Joseph  Anter. 

"       Frederick  H.  Bastian. 


Private  Chas.  H.  Bausley. 

August  Bristol. 

Herman  Brockman. 

George  W.  Brcryu. 

John  Butcher. 
"        Luther  Carpenter. 
'•        Win.  Darby. 
"        Frank  Dellar. 
"        Joseph  Desar. 
"       Wm.  F.  Dill. 

HugoEdler. 
"       Wm.  F.  Failor  (at  Chattanooga  at 

muster-out). 

"       John    Fari-ell    (at    Chattanooga    at 
muster-out). 

Alex.  K.  Green. 
"  Conrad  Herring. 
"  Thos.  Herring. 

lleinhold  Hoft'man. 
"        Antoine  Imer. 

Frank  Korte. 
"       John  J.  Lodge. 

Thos.  H.  B.  McNeil. 

Frank  A.  Manns. 

Albert  II.  Marthens. 

John  Mechley. 
"        Thos.  J.  Morgan. 
"        George  F.  Mosher. 
"       Wm.  C.  Rees. 

Andrew  Remlinger. 

Michael  Renner. 
"        George  Richarter. 

Thos.  J.  Rice. 

George  G.  Sabin. 

Wm.  Saxon. 

Thos.  Scannel. 

Frederick  Soghan. 

Frederick  Speck. 

Wm.  Vout. 

John  Wakeman. 

Stephen  H.  \\'eeks. 

Wm.  H.  Wreeks. 

John  Wiederecht  (absent). 

Martin  Wiederecht  (absent  in  hospi 
tal—Mission  Ridge  wounds). 

John  L.  Williams. 

Officers  Resigned. 

First  Lieut.  John  C.  Parker,  Feb.  15,  1862. 
Second  Lieut.  Thos.  H.Boylan,  Feb.  14,  1862. 

Harry  Gee,  Sept.  11,  1862. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Sergeant  James  F.  McGregor,  Sept.  20,  1863. 
Corporal  Augustus  W.  Young,  Nov.  25,  1863. 
Private  Adam  liugel,  Feb.  5,  1863. 

George  K.  Kopp,  Sept.  20,  1863. 
"        Joseph  I  mm,  Nov.  25,  1863. 
"        Samuel  W.  Stephenson,  Oct.  10,  1863. 
Simeon  Weeks,  Nov.  30,  1863. 

Killed  Accidentally. 

Captain  Ezekiel  H.  Tatt-m  (railroad  accident), 
July  15,  1862. 

Died  of  Disease. 

Private  Anthony  Carroll,  Oct.  — ,  1862. 
Joseph  Post,  Oct.  22,  1862. 
Chas.  Yanway,  Oct.  22,  1861. 

Transferred. 
Second   Lieut.   Jos.    L.  Autram,  to  Co.  H, 

April  17,  1863. 
Private  Fred.  H.  Alms,  to  Signal  Corps,  Jan. 

16,  1864. 
Private  Wm.  F.  Doepke,  to  Signal  Corps,  Jan. 

16,  1861. 
Private  Levi  L.  Pritzell,  to  Co.  H,  June  18, 

1861. 
Private  Edwin  D.  Smith,  to  Battery  M,  4th 

U.  S.  Artillery,  Oct.  23,  1862. 
Private  Kellian  Strassher,  to  Co.  H,  June  18, 

1861. 
Private  Nicholas  Stumpf,  to  Co.  H,  June  18, 

1861. 
Private  Edward  Ulm,  to  Co.  H,  June  18,  1861. 


APPENDIX. 


617 


Corporal  Liberty  H.  Jenkes,  to  V.  R.  Corps, 

Aug.  31,  1-63. 

Private  George  W.  Lawrence,  to  V.  R.  Corps, 
Aug.  31,  1863. 

Discharged. 

First  Sergeant  James  H.  Cochnower  (for  pro 
motion  in  another  command),  Dec.  13,  1861. 
Sergeant  Geo.  T.  Marshall,  Nov.  L".i,  l.N',2. 

"          James  W.  Morgan,  Aug.  26,  1862. 
Corporal  Wm.  Hawkins,"  Feb.  21,  1863. 
"         Wallace  Hume.  Jan.  19,  1863. 
"        James  Johnson,  Feb.  :>,  l>t-2. 
"        Giles  I).  Richards,  March  23,  1863. 
Private  Jos.  B.-nd--r,  May  1,  1863. 

John  Birnbaiim,  Dec.  29,  1862. 
"        C.    Columbus   Cones    (for  promotion 
in  another  command),  Aug.  — ,  Itti2. 
"        Chas.  DeLeon,  31  arch  26,  1 8113. 
"        Albert  C.  Drips,  March  9,  1863. 
"        Jacob  Gross,  Feb.  13,  1863. 
"        Samuel  Kellar,  Aug.  28,  1861. 
"        Fred.  Lancaster,  March  19,  1863. 
"        Henry  H.  Lanius,  Nov. 13,  1862. 
"        Chas.  Mitchell,  May  16,  1862. 
"        John  E.  Roes,  Sept.  29,  1861. 
"        George  W.  Weiss,  - 
"       Win.  W.  Williams,  April  14,  1863. 
"        Thos.  Wolcot,  Oct.  9,  1862. 
"       John  F.  Woliick,  July  31,  1S62. 

Dropped. 

Corporal  Thos.  Daniels,  May  7,  1862. 
Private  Edward  Chattin,  April  1,  1862. 
"        Jos.  Lively,  June  30,  1861. 

James  H.  Mahon, . 

"       Adam  Roberts,  April  1,  1862. 

COMPANY  E. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Wm.  E.  Sheridan. 
First  Lieut.  James  F.  Graham. 

First  Sergeant  Abram  R.  Lemmon. 
Sergeant  James  Lawler. 

Win.  Fisher. 

Joseph  Turley. 
"         Win.  Leike. 
Corporal  Pulaski  W.  Fuller. 
"         Aiex.  Rigler. 

Peter. Mabis. 
Private  George  W.  Adams. 

Joseph  Ade. 

Israel  Arnold. 

John  Benedick. 

Miles  Blake. 

Anthony  W.  Bowen. 

Christopher  C.  Bowen. 

George  W.  Bowen. 

Nelson   A.   Britt  (prisoner  of  war- 
died  in  rebel  prison). 

Henry  A.  Brown  (at  Chattanooga  at 
muster-out). 

Maurice  D.  Brown  (at  Chattanooga 
at  muster-out). 

Reuben  D.  Burgess. 

Jam.  s  <  'arr. 

Patrick  Corcoran. 

Andrew  Dielman. 

Eugene  Diserens. 

Chas.  Kckhart. 

Adam  Kmmert. 

George  W.  Fisher. 

John  Fisher. 

Adam  Hess. 

John  Hoban. 

John  G.  Jager. 

John  Kauflin. 

John  Kincella. 

Wilber force  Knott. 

Richard  Lambert. 

Abiel  Leaver. 

John  E.  Long. 

Joseph  E.  Longenbach. 

James  H.  Lyons. 

Andrew  Miser. 


Private  Robert  Porter  (absent). 

"       John  Paul   Robensteiu  (prisoner  of 

wa  r  at  muster-out). 
"        Oliver  Sa llin. 
"        John  B.  Sampson. 
"       Benj.  F.  Scull. 
"       George  T.  Seeley. 
"        John  II.  Simmons. 
"        Samuel  Shroder. 

Wm.Shroder. 

"       Joseph  Sousmer  (at  Chattanooga  at 
muster-out ). 

John  C.  Speidel. 
"        Abram  A.  Truesdale. 
"        Horatio  Tucker. 

Enoch  West. 
"  Robert  Wise. 
"  William  Wise. 

Recruits  (Transferred  June  7,  1864). 
Private  George  Bonn. 

1'eter  H.  Britt. 
"        Archibald  Mangan. 

FairfaxW.NelM.il. 
"  Sherwin  S.  Perkins. 
"  Henry  B.  Stites. 

Officer  Resigned. 
First  Lieut.  John  F.  Hoy,  July  21,  1861. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Corporal  Benj.  F.  Terry,  Sept.  28,  1863. 
Private  Chas.  Davis,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
"        Robert  Davis,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
"        Chas.  Deikmeyer,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
"        Agathon  Otto,  Jan.  22,  1863. 
"        Simeon  Shattuck,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
"        Michael  Schawbe,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Robert  E.  Tuxworth,  Sept.  19,  1863. 

Died  of  Disease. 

Private   Edmund    H.    Hall    (at    Knoxville, 
Teuu.),  date  not  known. 

Transferred. 

Captain  Samuel  C.  Erwin  (promoted  Major), 

April  is,  1863. 
First  Lieut.  James  M.  Donovan  (promoted), 

to  Co.  K,  April  18,  1S63. 
First  Lieut.   Frank  S.  Schieffer  (promoted), 

April  7,  1864. 
Second  Lieut.  Henry  C.  Choate  (promoted),  to 

Co.  G,  Jan.  2-,  IN«. 
Second  Lieut.  George  W.  31orris  (promoted), 

to  Co.  D,  Feb.  U,  1862. 
Sergeant  James   F.  Graham,  appointed  Ser- 

geant-Major  July  8th,  UJ62. 
Private  John  Hoi  lister,  to  Co.   H,   June  19, 

1861. 

Private  Peter  Kreps,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Feb.  21, 

1864. 

Discharged. 

First  Sergeant  Joseph  L.  Antram  (for  promo 
tion  in  Sixth  Ohio),  Aug.  19,  18rt2. 
First  Sergeant  Leonard  Boice  (for  promotion 

in  Sixth  Ohio),  Jan.  28,  1863. 
First  Sergeant,  Earl  W.  Stimson,  July  31,  1862. 
Corporal  Robert  Howdon  (to  enlist  in  navy), 

March  4,  1863. 

Corporal  Chas.  Williams,  Feb.  16,  1863. 
Private  Chas.  II.  Baldwin,  Jan.  14,  1S64. 

"        William  Betts, ,  lst',2. 

"        Oliver  Chamberlain,  Aug.  28,  1861. 

John  E.  Craig  (for  promotion  in  an 
other  command),  Sept.  2f>,  1861. 
Joseph  L.  Ferdon,  April  19,  1863. 
"        Herman  Frastrom,  June  It,,  i>ti2. 
"        Thomas  Green  wood,  June  15,  1863. 
"       Matthew  Orogran,  Feb.  13.  1*62. 
"        John  Harrison,  Jan.  I'.'.  1863. 
"        Carl  Korner,  Feb.  8,  l>i:,2. 
"        Samuel  J.  Lawrence,  Aug.  28,  1861. 
"        Samuel  Pierson,  Feb.  12,  1863. 
"        Joseph  Rebel,  June  15,  1863. 
"       Nicholas  Rudolph,  June  29,  1862. 


618 


APPENDIX. 


Private  Samuel  Skelton,  Feb.  12,  1?63. 

Mattliew  Smith,  Feb,  18,  1S63. 

"       James  L.  Terry,  April  19, 1862. 

"        Ulrich  Wahreuburger, ,  1861. 

"       Benj.  V.    Williams,  Sept.  16,  1863. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Corporal  Geo.  Hewison,  Jan.  19,  1863. 
Private  John  Climer,  March  17,  1862. 

"        Jacob  dimming,  June  19,  1862. 

"        Valentine  dimming,  June  19,  1862. 

"        Jasper  Graham,  Feb.  26,  18(i2. 

"        Chas.  Ireland,  July  18,  1862. 

"        John  Jounghaus,  June  19,  1862. 

"        Henry  Morgan,  June  19,  1862. 

"        Joseph  O'Connor,  June  19,  1862. 

"        Hugh  O'Donnell,  Aug.  1,  1862. 

"        Jolin  O'Neil,  March  26,  1863. 

"        John  Quinn,  June  25,  181)1.  • 

Albert  S.  Ritchie,  June  V9,  1862. 

"       Henry  Stanley,  Dec.  25,  1863. 

"        Daniel  Wilguss,  Dec.  20,  1861. 

COMPANY  F. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Justin  M.  Thatcher. 
First  Lieut.  Jesse  C.  La  Bille. 

First  Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Read. 
Sergeant  Otto  Brewer. 

Wm.  E.  Jackson. 
"       John  A.  Siegel. 
"        Jolin  E.  Hewitt. 
Corporal  John  B.  Miller. 
"         Edsvard  Lawrence. 
"         August  JSiermau. 
"         Wm.  It.  Wood. 
"         Fred.  Linenbrink. 
"         Milton  Limebach. 
"         James  Wood. 
"         Tlios.  B.  Manning. 
Musician  Joseph  Lafeber  (prisoner  of  war  at 

muster-out). 
Wagoner  John  McClury. 
Private  John  Battell. 
"        Harry  T.  Blake. 
Edward  Brady. 
"        Louis  Descordes. 
"       David  Downey. 
"        Michael  Enright. 
"       James  It.  Erwin. 
"       Henry  Evers. 

Frederick  Finer. 
George  Hoffman. 
"        Wm.  Kessemeyer. 
"       Bernard  Klatte. 
Peter  Lagaly. 
Ernst  Lawrence. 
John  Lawrence. 
Franklin  Lefeber. 
Henry  Leonard. 
Herman  Limes. 
John  Linceman. 
Perry  McAdams. 
"        Milton  McCully. 
Auinist  Martin. 
Jos.  T.  Nepper. 
Seth  G.  Perkins. 
Jonathan  lleames. 
Henry  Rohlman. 
"       Joseph  Ruff. 

Anthony  Schaffer. 
Henry  Smith. 
Levi  Sommers, 
"        Gustav  Stube. 
"       Frederick  Taphorn. 
"        Stewart  Terwilliger. 
"       Clement  Thiesing. 
Daniel  Toomeyer. 
Peter  West. 
Win.  Witte. 
Wm.  Wolf. 
James  Yost. 
Chas.  Young. 

Wm.  Young  (prisoner  of  war  at  mus 
ter-ont). 


African  undercook  Carter  Hughes. 
Wm.  Pope. 

Eecruits  (transferred  June  7,  1864). 
'rivate  Joseph  Annear. 
"        Ferd.  Armbruster. 
"        Frank  Butsch. 
"        Joseph  Furst. 
"        John  Buff. 
"       Jacob  Weaver. 

Officers  Resigned  and  Honorably  Discharged. 
Captain  Chas.  H.  Brutton,  Jan.  14,  1863. 
Tirst  Lieut.  James  F.  Irwin,  Jan.  29,  1864. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Corporal  Louis  Evers,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
Mvate  Christ.  Ark,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Wm.  Brocksmith,  April  7,  1862. 
"        Thus.  Brown,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
"        James  H.  Deans,  Sept.  19,  1863. 
"        Gottfried  Heileman,  Jan.  20,  1863. 
"        Jos.  Hooth,  Sept,  18,  186?,. 
"        Jolin  Q.  Root,  Jan.  5,  1863. 
"        Joseph  Toomeyer,  Nov.  2o,  1863. 
Henry  Willis,  Jan.  5,  1863. 

Died  of  Disease. 

Private  Edwin  S.  Crawford,  Dec.  5, 1862. 
"        Andrew  Oerthel,  Sept.  24,  1861. 

Transferred. 

First  Lieut.  Chas.  H.  Heron,  appointed  Adju 
tant.  June  —.1861. 

Second  Lieut.  Frank  S.  Schieffer  (promoted), 
to  Co.  E,  Feb.  17,  1863. 

First  Sergeant  Wm.  E.  Sheridan,  appointed 
Sergeant-Major.  Dec.  17,  1861. 

First  Sergeant  Albert  G.  Williams,  appointed 
Sergeant-Major,  May  31,  1862. 

Private  Chas.  Hottendorf  (to  serve  out  time 
in  41st  Ohio),  June  6.  1864. 

Private  Thos.  Neald,  May  17,  1863. 

Corporal  Frederick  W.  Hipp,  to  V.  R.  Corps, 

Nov.  9,  1863. 
Private  Toby  Sayler,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Nov.  6, 

1863 

Private  Wm.  Simpson,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Nov.  6, 
1863. 

Discharged. 

Sergeant  David  J.  Decamp  (for  promotion  in 
another  command),  May  8,  1862. 

Sergeant  Daniel  A.  Griffin, . 

''        Vere  W.  Roessi,  Sept.  24,  1861. 
Corporal  John  R.  Frankeburger,  June  4,  1862. 

"         Edward  P.  Perkins,  Jan.  14,  1862. 
Private  Jacob  Crites,  Aug.  13,  1863. 

"        Caspar  N.  Gunther,  April  12,  1863. 
"        George  Hearth,  Oct.  4,  18(52. 
"       Henry  Nierman,  June  17,  1862. 
"        Thos.  Noble,  July  SB,  1862. 
"        Henry  Peters,  Nov.  13,  1861. 

Chas.  Itocap,  Oct.  14,  1862. 
"       Geo.  W.  Vandegrift,  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Private  Michael  Carrisan,  June  20,  1862. 
"      *Wm.  Gloeb,  Dec.  3,  1861. 
"        Louis  Kolp,  Aug.  31,  1862. 

Michael  Miller,  Oct.  1,  1862. 
.  "        Wm.  Ovelgonner,  Oct.  1,  1862. 

Wm.  Overend,  Oct.  1,  1862. 
"       George  W.  Plummer,  Oct.  I,  1862. 
"       John  R.  Ramsey,  April  10,  1863. 
"        Ivonia  Rollins,  April  10,  1863. 
Larkin  Smith  (sick  in  hospital). 

COMPANY  G. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Wm.  S.  Getty. 
First  Lieut.  George  W.  Cormany. 

First  Sergeant  Abram  J.  Price. 


APPENDIX. 


619 


Sergeant  John  W.  Easely. 

"         Herbert  Sullivan. 
"        John   Peer. 
Corporal  Henry  F.  Howe. 

Dewitt  C.  Hays. 
"         ('has.  S.  Dunn. 

Harry  Simmons. 

(has.  A.  II.  Ilneker. 

John  Sullivan. 

Tin  is.  Hn  i  nett. 

\\  in.  Lotae. 

George  W.  J.  Miller  (prisoner  of  war, 

etc.) 

Mxi  ician  .laroh  I'.raunse. 
Pri  ate  Walter  Baldwin. 

Win.  Body. 

Peter  Uolser. 

Clias.  Boutvvell  (died  in  rebel  prison). 

llamer  Bradbury. 

Joseph  Burkuardt. 

Joshua  Cain. 

Wm.  E.  Collins. 

Thus.  Cromwell. 

Andrew  M.  Dunn. 

Daniel  A.  J£gan. 

Andrew  Fenhoif. 

At  las  B.  Fisher. 

Horace  Fislicr. 

Win.  W.  Garrard  (prisoner  of  war, 
etc.) 

John  S.  Gilson. 

Peter  Hoisace. 

Nicholas  Kehr. 

Andrew  Keller. 

John  11.  Loskam. 

Kudolph  Maczume. 

Robert  C.  Nelson. 

Albert  G.  Parreut. 

Wm.  C.  Perkins. 

Benj.  Post. 

George  Rhymearson  (detailed). 

Jolin  J.  Richards. 

Wm.  B.  Rowe  (died  in  rebel  prison). 

Geo.  W.  Hush. 

Alison  W.  Schenck. 

Wm.  H.  Service. 

John  Singer  (died  in  rebel  prison). 

Isaac  H.  Sturgis. 

Wm.  H.  Sturgis. 

John  II.  Sullivan. 

Wm.  F.  Sullivan. 

James  A.  Taylor. 

Peter  Walton. 
"       James  H.  Willis. 

Henry  Zarbrock. 

African  undercook  George  Washington. 
John  Jennings. 

Eecruits  (transferred  June  7,  1864). 
Private  Gustave  Bender. 
Joseph  Katchiug. 
Joseph  Long. 
Frank  Parsnips. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
First  Sergeant  George  B.  Kidenour,  Dec.  31, 

1862. 

Corporal  Oliver  P.  Rockenfield,  Dec.-31,  1862. 
Private  J.  Addison  Colwell,  Jan.  15,  1863. 
John  Huddleston,  Sept.  19,  1863. 
"       .Samu.-l  P.  Stallcup,  April  7,  1863. 
"        Robert  M.  Taulman,  Jan.  20,  1863. 

Died  of  Disease. 
Sergeant  Wm.  H.  Lloyd,  Sept.  19,  1862. 

Transferred. 
Captain  Anthony  0.  Russell,  promoted  Major, 

Ang.  19,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  Jules  J.  Montagnier  (promoted), 

to  Co.  B,  Feb.  3,  1863. 
First  Lieut.  Henry  C.  Choate  (promoted),  to 

Co.  B,  May  27,  1864. 
Second  Lieut.  James  F.  Irwin  (promoted),  to 

Co.  F,  Feb.  19,  1863. 


Private  Maley  Lemmings,  to  Co.  II,  June  2fi, 

1861. 
Private  Wm.  R.  Goodnough,  appointed  Q.  M.- 

Sergeant,  31ay  31,  1868. 

Private  Silas  S.  Dunn,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Oct.  29, 

1863. 
Private  John  Fenhoff,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Oct.  29, 

1863. 
Private  Frederick  Haha,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Nov. 

13,  LS63. 
Private  Milton  Parvin,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  March 

7,  1864. 

Private  Michael  G.    Ryan,  to  V.   R.   Corps, 
Aug.  1,  1863. 

Discharged. 

Sergeant  Lewis  Schramm,  Feb.  10,  1863. 
Corporal  Wm.  A.  Clark,  Jan.  27,  1864. 

"        Walter  Lawrence  (for  promotion  in 

Sixth  Oliin  i,  July  11,  lsr,2. 
Julius  C.  Schenck,  March  31,  1863. 
"         Joseph  Biuuers,  .May  4,  1862. 

Alfred  Burnett,  Aug.  29,  1861. 
Private  Augustus  Clements,  Oct.  23,  1862. 

Wm.  H.  Kberle,  July  Id,  1S62. 
"        Wm.  J.  Graham,  Aug.  27,  1863. 
Clias.  Heable,  Feb.  15,  1863. 
Gottlieb  llirstbnmer,  Feb.  26,  1863. 
Wm.  R.  Jovee,  Jan.  7,  1863. 
Joseph  Mi-Manns,  An-.  7,  1863. 
Joseph  Metzler,  Sept.  19,  1S62. 
Ambrose  A.  Phillips,  May  12,  1862. 
"        Alex.  Schenck.  Sept.  17,  1861. 

August  Sclimicltmau,  May  17,  1863. 
"        Wm.  H.  Sloan  (.for  promotion  in  Ma 
rine  Brigade;,  .March  7,  1863. 
James  J.  Waggoner,  July  25,  1862. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Private  Alex.  Barclay,  July  1,  1862. 
"        Henry  Bercitcr,  Aug.  8,  1*2. 
"        EdenB.  R.  Biles,  May  1,  isrtl. 

H.  W.  H.  Dickman,  Oct.  3,  1862. 
"        Thos.  Fenncll,  Sept.  7,  1862. 
"        James  J.  Gildea,  May  1,  1864. 

Isaac  Hnff,  May  1,  1864. 

Win.  McLaughlin,  May  1,  1864. 

Win.  .Mausington,  Nov.  28,  1862. 

Robert  Nolan,  Oct.  1,  1862. 

Michael  P.  Way,  May  1,  1864. 

COMPANY  H. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain    Henry    H.    Tinker    (absent    from 

wounds  received  at  Chickamauga). 
First  Lieut.  James  F.  Meline. 

First  Sergeant  Benj.  F.  Hopkins. 
Sergeant  Joseph  11.  McClintock. 

"         ('has.  A.  Ilaller  (absent  sick). 
Joseph  S.  Wehrle. 
Joseph  Gaug. 
Corporal  Albert  Speece. 
Benj.  D.  Hall. 
"         Joseph  R.  Northcraft. 

Frank  P.  Winstett. 
"         Frank  I).  Wentworth. 
"         John  A.  Bonner. 
"         Henry  Schaffer. 
Bugler  Win.  Schmidt. 
Musician  John  F.  Dressel  (absent). 
Wagoner  George  Harrison. 
Private  Wm.  C.  Allen. 

Thos.  Armstrong. 
James  F.  Attee. 
Joseph  Chlor. 
Joseph  0.  Clark. 
John  Cronin. 
John  W.  Douglas. 
Henry  Duvall. 
Wm.  C.  Ellis. 
Henry  Fra/,er. 
August  Friday. 
Henry  W.  Frillman. 
George  Greenfield. 


620 


APPENDIX. 


Private  Lewis  Halm. 
'       John  F.  Hanley. 
'        Herman  liinkly. 

11  an  11  ibal  M.Hopkins. 

Henry  K.-ith. 

Thomas  Kennedy. 
'        Patrick  Logue. 

Daniel  McGillicuddy. 
"        Absalom  Maxwell. 
"        Robert  Menah. 

John  Muir. 

Joseph  Neville. 

James  O'Malley. 

Hiram  E.  Page. 

('.  IVviot  (.absent). 

Joseph  Uohler  (absent). 

Stephen  Boas. 

Chas.  Schuster. 

Killian  Sirasser. 

Itichard  Thompson. 

George  Whippy. 

George  W.  Whistler. 
"       J aiues  B.  Willits. 

Missing  in  Action. 
Private  Michael  Manly,  since  Sept.  19,  1863. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Private  John  Christ  (Chickamauga  wounds), 

,  1663. 

Private  Valentine  Merdian,  Nov.  25,  1863. 

Henry  Hasher,  Feb.  17,  1863. 
"        Mar tui  Serbati.-r,  Jan.  20.  1863. 
"        ('has.  \\  altermet,  Jan.  2,  1863. 
"        Benj.  Worrell,  Nov.  27,  1863. 

Killed  Accidentally. 
Second  Lieut.  Solomon  Bidwell,  Oct.  — ,  1861. 

Officers  Resigned. 

First  Lieut.  Jos.  L.  An  tram,  Oct.  28,  1863. 
"         "        John  \VT.  Morgan,  Sept  11,  1862. 

Transferred. 
First  Lieut.  Win.  E.  Sheridan  (promoted),  to 

Co.  E,  April  — •.  1863. 
Private  Maley  Leming  (to  enlist  in  gunboat 

service). 

Private  Joseph  Halm,  to  V.  R.  Corps,  Jan.  24, 

1864. 
Private  Samuel  Lawrence,   to  V.  R.  Corps, 

Jan.  24,  1864. 

Private  Ferd.  Schoenfelder,  to  V.  R.  Corps, 
Oct.  29,  1863. 

Discharged. 
First  Sergeant  Win.  H.  Pierce  (for  promotion 

in  another  command),  Aug.  4,  1862. 
Sergeant  John  L.   Miller  u'or  promotion  in 

another  command),  Sept.  29,  1862. 
Sergeant  Samuel  Walker,  Jan.  20,  1864. 
Corporal  Win.  A.  Ream,   .March  11,  1862. 
"         Joseph  Sandheger,  Sept.  9,  1862. 
"         Levi  Thompson,  Feb.  28,  Ib63. 
Private  Levi  H.  Barehus,  Dec.  27,  1861. 
"        Wm.  Bourgard,  March  17,  1863. 
"        John  G.  Boyle  (for  promotion  in  an 
other  command),  Sept.  29,  1862. 
"        Delevan  Brown,  April  6,  1863. 
"        Eugene  Brown,  Sept.  21,  1862. 
"        Bryan  C.  Easier  U<>  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Artillery),  Dec.  18,  1862. 
"        Jolm  M.  Gay,  Jan.  14,  1863. 
"        Lawrence  Geiss,  Aug.  4,  1863. 
"        Max  Hemlrieks,  Aug.  12,  1862. 
"        John  Hollister,  Feb.  29,  1862. 
John  G.  King,  Sept.  22,  1861. 
Jos.  Legrand,  Jan    9,  1864. 
Owen  Murphy,  Aug.  4,  1863. 
Levi  L.  Pritzell,  Jan.  HI,  k-62. 
John  Riley  (by  sentence  court-mar 
tial),  Nov.  14,  1S62. 
David  Singer,  Feb.  9,  1863. 
Andrew  Sullivan,  Nov.  3,  1862. 
Edward  Uln^  April  21,  1863. 
Anthony  Walsh,  Jan.  6,  1863. 


Dropped,  etc. 
Corporal  Chas.  Ashman,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Robert  Andrews,  Aug.  31,  1863. 

Wm.  Carririgton,  Aug.  18,  1862. 

Henry  Colin  burg,  Aug.  18,  1862. 

John  Maley,  Dec.  9.  1861. 

John  D.  Newman,  Aug.  18,  1862. 

Nicholas  Stumpf,  July  21,  1861. 
"        Antonio  Smith,  Aug.  18,  1862. 
"        Henry  C.  Thatcher,  Aug.  31,  1863. 

John  Wilson,  Aug.  18,  1862. 

COMPANY  I. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  Benj.  F.  West. 
First  Lieut.  George  T.  Lewis. 

First  Sergeant  Win.  L.  Wolverton. 
Sergeant  John  Hanley. 

Ferd.  McDonough. 
Corporal  Win.  Langenheim. 
"         Wm.  Crawford. 

('has.  Fahlbusch  (detailed). 

Richard  Gar  wood. 
"         Henry  Harmeyer. 
"         Fred.  Larcom. 
Musician  Edward  Ficke. 
Wagoner  Frederick  Shoenell. 
Private  Otto  Aimer. 
"        Gustave  Bauer. 

B.  Frank  Bnihm. 

Adolph  Bruner. 

Henry  Bndilenbaum. 

Nexvton  Bucknell. 

George  Burner. 

Edward  P.  Catlin. 

Beuj.  W.  Clark. 

Jos.  Dreher. 

Antoine  Frave. 

August  Grass. 

Edwin  Green. 

Joseph  Gutzweiler  (detailed). 

Jacob  Hauser. 

Gottlieb  Heller. 

James  V.  Hirley. 

A.loj|)h  Hof. 

Davi()  Hunnuch. 

Roland  0.  Jones. 

Wm.  Jurgens. 

Dennis  H.  Kennedy. 

Christ.    Kohli    (absent  in   hospital, 
from  wouads). 

Jacob  Landis. 

Jacob  Lesie. 

John  C.  Lynch. 

John  McGlore. 

James  Martin. 

Wm.  L.  May. 

Eli  Miller. 

Hiram  M  osier. 

August  Nischan. 

John  L.  Rea  (detailed). 

Timothy  Ryan. 

Christ.  Schweitzer. 

Matthias  Seibert. 

Sylvester  Weber. 

Wm.  C.  Weber. 

.Wm.  Yager. 

John  Zimmerman. 

African  undercook  Geo.  Washington. 

Eecruits  (transferred  June  7, 1864). 
Private  John  Collins. 

"       Joseph  Henderson. 
"        Samuel  Parker. 
"        Andrew  "Ray. 
"       Joseph  Seiter. 

Missing  in  Action. 
Private  James  Carson,  Sept.  20,  1863. 

Wm.  Maygatfoygau,  Sept.  20,  1863. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Private  Marx  Essiuger,  Nov.  25,  1863. 


APPENDIX. 


621 


Private  Jacob  TTillflcckor,  Feb.  4,  1802. 

Darnel  E.  Md'arty,  Sept- HI,  1863. 
"  II. imicii  Nortman,  April  7,  1662. 
"  Samuel  Pnlver,  Dec.  :',!,  1*2. 

"       Jacob  II.  Kappiee,  Dec.  ::i,  1862. 

"        Frederick  Springmeyer,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

"        Gregoire  Ychle,  Sept.  11,  1861. 

Died  of  Disease. 
Private  Win.  Wcnzel,  July  8,  1862. 

Officer  Resigned. 
Second  Lieut.  Walter  Lawrence,  Feb.  — ,  1863. 

Transferred. 
Captain  James  Bense  (promoted  Major),  Jan. 

20,  1864. 
First  Lieut.  Richard  Southgate  (promoted), 

to  Co.  C,  Nov.  2,  L-62. 

Second  Lieut,  Josiah  W.  Blanker,  to  Co.  K, 
April  30,  1863. 

Discharged. 

First  Sergeant  Wesley  B.  McLane  (for  promo 
tion  in  Sixth  Ohio),  June  27,  1863. 
Sergeant  George  T.  Lewis  (for  promotion  in 

Sixtli  Ohio),  Feb.  3,  1863. 
Corporal  Heury  C.  Cnoate  (for  promotion  in 

Sixth  Ohio),  April  5,  1802. 
Corporal  Henry  Gibson,  March  16,  1863. 
*'         George  S.  Laliue,  Jan.  27,  1864. 
"         Thus. Long,  March  16,  1863. 
"         Edward  Koderigo,  Feb.  9,  1863. 
John  Williams,  March  16,  1863. 
Private  Thus.  Cartwiight,  .March  16,  1863. 
Frederick  Ellerman,  May  2,  1863. 
"        Win.  Furristall,  Oct.  22,  1863. 
"        Frank  Gerliardt,  Dec.  31,  1»62. 

Frederick  Heckert,  April  18,  1864. 
Edward  HOT',  Sept.  26,  1862. 
"        Otto  Hof,  Nov.  27,  1863. 
"        John  Jackson,  June  30,  1863. 
"        John  Muliler,  Sept.  26,  1862. 
"        Orlando  M.  Smith,  March  16,  1863. 
"        John  Storker,  Nov.  27,  1663. 
"        Wm.  T.  Swilt,  March  16,  1863. 
"        Win.  Y.  Thorburn,  Dec.  31,  1863. 
"       James  Wilson,  March  16,  1863. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Private  Frederick  Beck,  June  24,  1861. 
"        Peter  limner,  June  24,  1861. 
"        John  Bnrckhardt,  June  24,  1861. 
"        Michael   Connell  (paroled  prisoner), 

.Max   1.  1864. 

"       Samuel  Erminger,  Feb.  12,  1863. 
"       Robert    Feuley    (paroled   prisoner), 

May  1,  1864. 

"        Win.  Geisel,  June  24, 1861. 
"       John   Little  (paroled  prisoner),  May 

1,  1864. 

"       Jacob  LitZ"l,  June  24,  1861. 
"       Thos.    Marshall    (paroled  prisoner), 

May  1,  1864. 
"       John  Oysterboy  (paroled   prisoner), 

May  1,  1864. 

"        Robert  H.  Pence,  June  11,  1862. 
"        Michael  S.  Witmer,  March  19,  1862. 
"        Miritz  Zink,  June  24,  1861.    . 

COMPANY  K. 

Mustered  out  with  Regiment. 
Captain  James  M.  Donovan. 
First  Lieut.  Chas.  C.  Peck. 

First  Sergeant  George  B.  Nicholson. 
Sergeant  Jethm  T.  Hill. 

"          Win.  S.  Squires. 

Win.  Gain. 
Corporal  Albeit  Kiinball. 

"        Joseph   H.  t'ohagen  (died   in  rebel 
prison). 

"        Noheniiah  V.  Pennington. 
Musician  Lewis  Matt. 
Private  Christ.  Albert. 

"       John  A.  Barth. 


Private  Henry  Bookman. 
John  ll.Howlhy. 
Geo.  W.  15(,\vlby. 
LouIaC.  I'.ivhm. 

George  Buskirk. 

Robert  S.  Culbertson. 

Francis  J.  Cnllom. 

('has.  Cmmingliam. 

Frederick  Kggeman. 

Henry  Elsin-. 

Constantine  Fecker. 

Wm.  T.  (Goodwin. 

Joseph  Gran  (absent  from  wounds). 

John  Hafling. 

Iftaac  13.  Mart. 

Daniel  Henrie. 

Peter  HotVman. 

Jacob  Holfnagel. 

Lorenz  11  uber  (prisoner  of  war,  etc.) 

John  A.  Koo. 

August  Kreyenhagen. 

John  C.  Leistner. 

Wm.  A.  Lohn  (prisoner  of  war,  etc.) 

Theodore  B.  McDonald. 

Frantz  Meier. 

Pedro       Montaldo      (absent,      from 

wounds). 
Jolin  Moorhouse. 
Theodore  Ortiuau. 
Thos.  Parker. 
Reason  Reagin. 
('lark  C.  Saunders. 
Henry  E.  Scholle. 
John  Scit/,. 
Henry  Shelton. 
George  \V.  G.  Shipman. 
Henry  Shockman. 
Jos.  W.   Tomson. 
Samuel  Walker. 
Chas.  Warner. 
Frederick  Walking. 
Geo.  W.  Yeager. 
Gerhard  Zuruweilde. 

Recruit  (transferred  June  7,  1864). 
Private  Andrew  Murphy. 

Killed,  and  Died  of  Wounds. 
Sergeant  Thos.  G.  Drake,  Dec.  31,  1862. 
John  H.  Osling,  Sept.  20,  1863. 
Corporal  Henry  F.  Funk,  Sept.  19,  1S63. 

"         Henry  G.  KreyenhageH,  Jan.  9,  1863. 
"         Joseph  Martin,  Keb.  8.  1863. 
Private  Lewis  F.  Frantz,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

George  Kelsch,  Feb.  1,  1,S>3. 
"  David  Klein,  March  5,  1863. 
"  Jacob  Nickel,  Jan.  31,  1863. 
"  Theodore  Wesselman,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Killed  Accidentally. 
Private  Harvey  S.  Ford,  Aug.  9,  1861. 

Drowned. 
Private  Frank  Guhra,  Sept.  27,  1861. 

Died  of  Disease. 

Private  Alex.  Schmidtman,  Sept.  6,  1863. 
Raymond  Welling,  Oct.  5,  1862. 

Officers  Resigned,  etc. 
Captain  Chas.  M.  Clarke,  Sept.  8,  1862. 
First  Lieut.  A.  B.  Billerbeck,  Oct.  16,  1861. 
Second  Lieut.  Edward  F.  Gettier  (dismissed), 
March  30,  1863. 

Transferred. 

Second  Lieut.  Justin  M.  Thatcher  (promoted), 
to  Co.  F,  Dec.  24,  1861. 

Second  Lieut.  Josiah  W.  Slanker,  appointed 
R.  Q.  M.,  April  19,  1864. 

First  Sergeant  Henry  Gee,  appointed  Ser 
vant-Major,  Dec.  16,  1861. 

Musician  John  II.  Bueltcl,  appointed  Chief 
Musician,  July  5,  1863. 

Private  John  M.  Drake,  to  Signal  Corps,  Oct. 
22,  1863. 


622 


APPENDIX. 


Private  Chas.  E.  Lewis,  appointed  Hospital 
Steward,  Dec.  1,  1661. 

Sergeant  Wm.  Pappenbrook,  to  V.  E.  Corps, 

Nov.  1,  18(53. 
Private  Alex.  Love,  to  V.  E.  Corps,  Nov.  1, 

Private  Wm.  McBride,  to  V.  E.  Corps,  Nov. 
1,  1863. 

Discharged. 

First  Sergeant  James  F.  Meline  (for  promo 
tion  in  Sixth  Ohio),  Feb.  19,  1863. 
Sergeant  Herman  E.  W.  Backus,  Jan.  4,  1802. 
"         Henry  N.  Couden  (for  promotion  in 
Mississippi  Marine  Brigade),  April 
8,  1863. 
Corporal  James  T.  Barauloo,  Dec.  4,  1862. 

"         Chas.  Donnelly,  April  18,  1863. 
Private  Geo.  Andrews,  March  2,  1863. 
"        Theodore  Austin,  Feb.  6,  1862. 
"       Frank  Crets,  Dec.  4,  1861. 


Private  David  D.  Davis,  Feb.  6,  1862. 

Henry  C.  Davis,  March  13,  1863. 
"        Henry  Gauckstadt,  Aug.  27,  1862. 
"        Joseph  Haddock,  March  13,  1863. 
"        Cliristopher  H.  Kuhn,  Aug.  3,  1863. 
"       Jefferson  McClure,  July  31,  1862. 
"        Wm.  A.  Roebuck,  Feb.  9,  1863. 
"        Mort.  Singer  (to  enlist  in  4th  U.  S. 

Artillery),  Oct.  23,  1862. 
"        James  F.  Smith,  March  16,  1862. 
"        Truemau  C.  Tryon,  Jan.  4,  1862. 
"        Harrison  Waltz,  Aug.  28,  1861. 
"        Thos.  S.  Withnell,  Feb.  9,  1863. 

Dropped,  etc. 

Private  Frank  Christman,  Oct.  1,  1852. 
"        Clements  Dulle,  Dec.  5,  1861. 
"       Wesley  W.  Long,  Oct.  31,  1862. 
"        ('has.  Weid.-man,  April  24,  1864. 
"       George  E.  Wilder,  Oct.  1,  1862. 


T 


RETURN    CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 
TO—*    202  Main  Library         //•' 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling        642-3405 


DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

SENT  ON  ILL 

OCT  0  8  1S93 

U.  C.  BERKELEY 

FORM  NO.  DD6 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
BERKELEY,  CA  94720 


51208 


M134592 


E535 


Ms 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


